F 



AX HISTORICAL DISO(^URSE 



DELIVEKED AT THE 



l/l^bption of th^ |)n£ j|un(lri|dtlt Mniueiparg 



OF THE ERECTION OF THE 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 



FARMINGTON, CONN. 



-^ 



October 16, 1872. 



By NOAH PORTER, D. D 



PR!- SI DENT or VALE COLLEGE. 



^ «« ♦ ««^ 



HARTFORD: 

CASE, LOCKWOOD & BRAINAKD, PRINTERS. 

1873. ■ 




Class. 
Book. 



E-ULH 



AIS" HTSTOEIOAL DISCOURSE 



DELIVERED AT THE 



l/tcbration of the m\t j|iindrc(lth Inniuersarg 



OF THE ERECTION OF THE 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 



FARMINGTON, CONN. 
October 16, 1872. 

By NOAH PORTER. D. D 

PRESIDENT OF YALE COLLEGE. 



HARTFORD: 

CASE, LOCK WOOD & BRAINARD, PKINTERS. 
1873. 



bb'r^«^ 



O^ 






PEEFAOE 



At a special meeting of the First Ecclesiastical Society of Farm- 
ington, held May 5th, 1871, it was voted "that a committee of five 
be appointed to devise ways and means to have a proper celebration 
of the one hundredth anniversary of the building of our church in 
this village ; and Julius Gay, Edward Norton, John S. Rice, Thomas 
Covvles, and Samuel S. Cowles were appointed said committee." 

The committee met accordingly, and, having in mind the address of 
President Porter, to which many of us had listened, on a somewhat 
similar occasion thirty years before, with no ordinary interest, we 
deemed it most fitting that he who had worshiped in the old church 
in his boyhood, and whose venerated sire had so faithfully and so 
well for sixty years ministered to this people, should again meet with 
us and rehearse the story of these hundred years. 

After an examination of the records of the Society, it appeared 
that the inscription, "July, 1771," cut upon the foundation stones of 
the building, had reference only to that portion of the structure, while 
the remainder of the house was not finished until the year follow- 
ing and the " Dedication Lecture " was preached on the 25th of 
November, 1772. It was therefore decided that the commemoration 
exercises should be held as nearly upon the one hundredth annivers- 
ary of the dedication as the coolness of the season rendered desirable. 
The following circular w as sent far and wide to all the old residents, 
whose address could be ascertained : 

" One hundred years having passed since the erection of the present church 
edifice, at Farmington, Conn., it is proposed to hold commemorative services 
Wednesday, Octoher 16th, 1872, at half-past ten o'clock, A. m. 



The Committee are happy to announce that, with other appropriate exercises, 
there will be an Historical Address by President Porter, of Yale College. 

It would add much to the interest of the occasion should there be present a 
large representation of those who have gone out from us, also of others, who 
with no personal associations, may yet be interested in the growth and prosperity 
of this ancient church of Christ. 

To all such, a most cordial invitation is extended to unite with us in the 
celebration of this anniversary. 

In cases where an acceptance of this invitation is impossible, letters, embodying 
interesting facts and reminiscences, will be gratefully received. 

Persons residing at a distance, who propose to be present, will confer a favor 
on the Committee by sending in their names at an early date, in order that 
suitable provision may be made. 

Early morning trains from New Haven, Northampton, and Hartford arrive at 
Farmington Station at 8.08, a. m., and evening trains leave said station for either 
of those places at 7 p. m. 

JULIUS GAY, 1 

JOHN S. RICE, I 

SAMUEL S. COWLES, |^ Committee. 
EDWARD NORTON, | 
THOMAS COWLES. J 
Farmington, October 1st, 1872." 

The 16th of October was a pleasant day. The church was 
crowded. The pulpit, the communion table, and the adjacent walls, 
were covered with floral decorations, amid which appeared the names 
of the former pastors of the church and of the building committee, and 
the text: "One Generation passetli away and another Generation 
Cometh." By the side of the pulpit were exhibited the drum by 
means of which the people were formerly summoned to church on 
the Sabbath, and some of the carpenters' tools which were used in 
the construction of the building. After the delivery of the address, 
the audience was invited to partake of a collation prepai-ed by the 
ladies of the church. 

The exercises in the morning were as follows : 

1. Voluntary. " Tne Lord is in His Holy Temple." 

2. Invocation. 

3. Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. J. F. Merriam. 



4. Anthem, 

" And will the great eternal God 
On earth establish his abode, 
And will He, from His radiant throne 
Avow our temples as His own ? 

These walls our fathers here did raise ; 
Long may they echo to Thy praise, 
And Thou, descending, fill the place 
With choicest tokens of Thv grace. 



Here let the great Redeemer reign , 
With all the glories of His train ; 
Whilst power divine His word attends. 
To conquer foes, and cheer His friends. 

Great King of Glory come. 
And with Thy favor crown 
This temple as Thy dome, 
This people as Thy own." 



5. Prayer, by Rev. C 

6. Anthem. 



L. Goodell, D. D. 



" Great God, we come with grateful i These years with blessings Thou hast 

[hearts,. [crowned, 

For blessings which Thy love imparts, 'in peace and plenty we abound, 
And offer thanks to Thee. While mercies still increase. 



From Thy celestial courts above, 
O, smile upon us, God of love. 
Let Mercy, with protecting wing. 
To contrite hearts forgiveness bring. 

K 

Thy goodness smiles on all around. 
The blooming mead, the fertile ground, 
All speak of love divine. 

In every star which decks the sky. 

The sun, the moon uplifted high. 

We see Thy goodness shine. 

7. Historical Discourse, 

8. Hymn. Tune " Marlow." 

" O God, our help in ages past. 
Our hope for years to come, 

Our shelter from the stormy blast. 
And our eternal home ! 

Before the hills in order stood. 
Or earth received her frame, 

From everlasting Thou art God, 
To endless years the same. 

A thousand ages, in Thy sight, 
Are like an evening gone — 

9. Benediction. 



In loud thanksgiving let us sing. 

And our united offerings bring : 

Thy blessings never cease. 

And when on earth no more we raise 
Our hearts to Thee in prayer and praise, 
may we sing in Heaven ! 

And there in strains which Angels tell. 
The lond thanksgiving anthem swell 
For all Thy favors given." 

by Pre.-ident Noah Porter, D. D. 
Sung by the Congregation. 

[Short as the watch that ends the night 

[ Before the rising sun. 

I 

Time, like an ever rolling stream, 

Bears all its sons away ; 
They fly, forgotten, as a dreaha 
Dies at the opening day. 

O God ! our hel]) in ages jiast. 
Our hope for years to come. 

Be Thou our guide while troubles last. 
And our eternal home." 



The afternoon was devoted to short addresses appropriate to the 
occasion, and remarks were offered by Rev. J. F. Merriam, the 
pastor of tlie church, Rev. Scth Bliss, of Berlin, Elihu Burritt, Esq., 
Gen. Joseph R. Hawley, Hon. Fran'-is Gillette, Rev. J. R. Keep, 
R. G. Vermilye, D. D., F. Hawley, Esq , Leverett Griggs, D. D., 
Rev. T. K. Fessenden, Rev. C. L. Goodell, D. D., Dr. Isaac G. 
Porter. 



HISTOKIOAL DISCOURSE. 



This edifice has been used as a place for public'' worship 
almost a hundred years. The "Dedication Lecture" was 
preached Nov. 25th, 1772, and on " the Sabbath " following 
the congregation began to occupy this house as their place of 
worship. 

A hundred years, when viewed in one aspect, is a brief 
period and of little consequence ; viewed in another, it is 
comparatively long, and may be most important in the events 
which it includes and the influences which it lias seen spring 
into life. It is not nineteen centuries since the Christian 
era began. The last three or four hundred years of this 
era have been distinguished as the most eventful of these 
nineteen, and among these none has witnessed changes so 
significant and so much for the better as the very last. 

It seems scarcely credible that the world of thought 
and feeling could be what we know it was when this old 
church was new ; that the manners and institutions, the 
opinions and principles, the inner life and the outward civ- 
ilization of Christendom have undergone such marvelous 
changes, while this house has been standing here and looking 
out upon the stream of progress that has rushed so swiftly by. 

As we enter it to-day to honor its fresh and green old age, 
we are almost impelled to regard it as a living person, and 
reverently and lovingly to question it concerning the past 



which it has watched in the busy days, and thought of in 
the silent nights, during the long years in which it has been 
keeping sentry on this hill-side. Or, if the fiction be too bold 
which makes it a person, surely that is not too daring which 
believes it to be filled at this hour with the spirits of the 
departed, whose feet have trod in these aisles, whose eyes 
have looked familiarly upon these walls, and whose instructed 
minds and reverent hearts have interpreted the course of 
events, both public and private, local and national, in the light 
of the divine purposes and the promised redemption of man. 
It is as one awed and elevated by their presence that I 
would speak — with faithful truth, yet with affectionate interest 
in the past history of the community which for a century has 
known and honored this as the house of God. 

First, as is appropriate, I would speak of the edifice and 
its consti-uction. The first recorded movement towards the 
erection of this building was on Feb. 2d, 1767, when, at a 
meeting of the parish, 54 voted, 24 being in the negative, 
that it. was necessary to build a meeting-house in the first 
society* of Farmington, and Solomon Whitman was directed 
to apply to the county court to fix the site for the edifice. 

Nothing further seems to have been done before December 
21st, when it was voted " that a judicious committee should 
be called to give their opinion whether it was expedient to 
build a new, or repair the old, structure." Dec. 30th, 'three 
builders, probably residing in the neighboring parishes, were 
selected as this committee. They reported in April, 17- 8, 
that the old meeting-house was not worth repairing. 

It was not, however, till February 6th, 1769, that the 
decisive vote was taken (53 against 12) to build this church. 
Another agent, Mr. John Strong, was selected to apply to 
the county court to fix the place, it being stipulated that it 

* The old town of Farmington at that time consisted of six societies: the first ; 
the second, Great Swamp, 1708, named in 1722 Kensington; the third, South- 
ington, L722 ; the fourth, New Cambridge, now Bristol, 1744; the fifth. New 
Britain, 1754; the sixth, Northington, now Avon, 1750, subsequently divided 
into East and West Avon. Since the erection of this church edifice, three other 
Congregational societies have been constituted within the limits of the First 
Society, viz.: West Britain or Burlington, 1774, Plainville, and Unionville, 1839. 



8 

should l)e within this plot of ground. One penny in a pound 
was voted to procure timber ; and Capt. Judah Woodruff 
and Mr. Fisher Gay were chosen a committee " to procure 
thick stuff for the building." Hezekiah Wadsworth and 
Isaac Bidwell were subsequently added (Dec. 18th, 1769,) to 
these two. 

In Dec, 1770, tlie movements became earnest and decisive. 
It was resolved tliat the timber should be cut that winter, 
that the house should be seventy-five feet long and fifty 
in breadth, and that it should be framed and set up the 
following spring or "fore part of summer." That this was 
done is evident from the inscription on the foundation, " July, 
1771." The important provisions were added that it should 
have a steeple at one end, and a porch at the other for the 
stairs leading into the gallery. Both these directions are 
somewhat significant.* 

In April, 1771, the question of the location came up, and it 
was voted, 78 to 32, that it should be placed south-east of the 
old house, facing to the north-west or west. It was also voted 
that the steeple should be at the north end of the house, 
probably after a careful balancing of the relative strength of 
the voters of the north and south parts of the parish, or 
perhaps because tradition or aesthetic feeling required that a 
church situated near the meridian line should look to the 
north. Also that there should be " two tiers of hewed stone 
foreside of said house, and two-thirds of the way at each 
end." At the same meeting, the precise place of the house 
was determined by a large committee and approved by the 
Society.! 



* In all the older, and in many of the later, commodious meeting-houses of 
New England, the galleries were reached by stairways within the audience room. 
Any person who was ever present in one of these churches and recalls the 
stunning and irreverent din made by the youth as they rushed down these noisy 
staircases, would not need to be referred to the reason given in the vote passed 
on a like occasion at Wethersfield (1760), viz.: "That there shall be a porch 
oi)posite the steeple," and " that stairs be made to go into the galleries in said 
steeple and porch and not in the body of said house, that the congregation may 
not be interrupted by such as go into the galleries in time of Avorship, and that 
there may be more room in said house." 

t The following month this matter was again called up by the committee who 
had been appointed by the General Assembly, and 55 voted for the north place, 



A number of men were selected from the north and south 
parts of the Society to aid on alternate days in raising the 
frame till it should be finished.* It was voted to cover it 
that summer. In September, it was voted to cover the deck- 
ing- of the steeple with sheet lead. In Deceml)er, 1771, it 
was voted to give X20 to Lieut. Abner Curtiss for hurt and 
damage sustained at the raising of the frame, and to the 
widow Merrills, whose husband was killed, £6.t It was also 
voted to finish the church tlie following summer. In Novem- 
ber, 1772, it was voted to meet in it for regular worship. 

The two persons who deserve to be named as active in its 
construction are Col. Fisher Gay and Captain Judah Wood- 
ruff". J Mr. Gay was one of the two or three leading merchants 

so called, 39 for the site of the old house, and about 7 for that place called " The 
Green." 

* The tradition is, that on each day of the raisinj^ a large Indian pudding was 
boiled in a potash kettle for the dinner of the workmen. 

t There is still extant in the original MS. an elegiac poem of some two 
hundred lines on the death of Mr. Merrills, who was a worthy citizen of the 
White Oak district, a builder by trade, who had not completed his own house at 
the time of his death. He fell from the roof, or the frame of the attic floor, 
being struck by a rafter which sent him headlong to the earth. It was for a long 
time a tradition among the boys that there might be found in the cellar the blood- 
stained rock on which he fell. 

t Col. Fisher Gay was the son of John Gay, Jr., who was born in Dedham, Mass., 
1698. He was born in Sharon, Oct. 9, 1733, and graduated at Yale College, 
1759. At this time he received from his fatheCan English guinea :uid his father's 
blessing. He began his life at Farmington as a school teacher, but after two or three 
years he started a small mercantile business, which, by his energy an I skill, be- 
came very considerable. He soon became prominent in public affairs. He 
was appointed one of the committee of correspondence from the town in 1774, and 
was a member of the other important committees, as of vigilance, preparation, 
etc. On hearing of the conflict at Concord and Lexington, he shut up his store 
at once and marched to Boston at the head of about a hundred volunteers. His 
commission as Lieutenant Colonel is dated January 23, 1776. His last commis- 
sion as Colonel bears date June 20, 1776. The brief journal which he kept of 
his services before Boston is preserved. From this it appears that he reported to 
Geicral Washington Feb. 6tli, and on the 13th was sent for by him and imme- 
diately despatched into Rhode Island and Connecticut to purchase jjowder. On 
the 18th he reported himself with a number of tons, " to the great satisfaction of 
the General," but was severely ill from over-exertion. The 4th of March he was 
ordered with his regiment to act as a part of a covering party to the workmen 
who were detached to fortify Dorchester heights. The success of this attempt led 



10 

of the village, and a public-spirited and intelligent man. In 
obedience to the vote of 1769, he and Captain Woodruff went 
to Boston for the timber, which was brought from the then 
Province of Maine, and was of the choicest quality. Captain 
Woodruff was the architect and master-builder, and the tools 

to the evacuation of Boston, and Colonel Gay, with his regiment, with Colonel 
Leonard, Majors Sproat and Chester, and other officers and their troops, were or- 
dered to march in and take possession of the town, where he continued within, or 
liefore the works, till the army hefore Boston hroke up, when his regiment was 
ordered to New York. On his way he spent two or three days with his family for 
the last time — heing at that time very ill. He grew worse after reaching New York. 
A part of his command was sent to Long Island, and were in the action which fol- 
lowed the retreat, in which last movement they were distinguished. He died Au- 
gust 22, 1776, and was buried on the day of the battle. His zeal and self sacrifice 
were conspicuous. On his sword, which is still preserved, are engraved the words, 
" Freedom or Death ! " 

Judah Woodruif was born about 1720, and was the youngest son of Joseph 
WoodruflF, who descended from Matthew Woodruff, one of the eighty -four proprie- 
tors of the town. His house stood near the site of the one owned and occupied 
by the late Noadiah Woodruff, at the north end of the village. At about the age of 
forty he served as First Lieutenant in the French war, under a warrant signed by 
"Thomas Fitch, Esq., Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over his 
Majesty's English Colony of Connecticut, in New England in America. Given 
on the twenty-second day of March, in the thirty-second year of the reign of his 
Majesty George the Second, King of Great Britain, Anno Domini 17.59. By his 
Honor's command, George Wyllys Sec'y." He served through the French war, 
and was at the battle of Ticonderoga. 

After the close of the war, he returned home and commenced building, and during 
the interval between the French war and the war of the Revolution, built ten houses 
including his 'own, and also the cAirch of which he was the architect and master 
builder. At the open'ng of the Revolutionary war he entered the army and 
served as an officer. After the close of the war he built four or five other dwelling, 
houses in this village, which with the ten previously erected, with one or two ex- 
ceptions are still standing in excellent repair, and with care would last another 
century. 

He was a man of energy and ])ersevering industry, as was proved by his work- 
ing at late hours, carving upon the pulpit for the church with his knife, after the 
labors of the day. He was also a man of taste and close observation, and introduced 
a style of building which added to the respectability of the dwellings of this villa<.'e- 
His carving on the front of the pulpit, representing vines of the English ivy, was 
greatly admired. He probably received many hints in Boston, which city he visited 
several times, performing his journeys on horse-back. 

Captain Woodruff died at the age of seventy-nine, and retained his vigor of 
mind until the last, while his physical energies were but little impaired until his 
last sickness. The Rev'd Timothy Pitkin officiated at his funeral, and bore testi- 
mony to his earnest piety. 



11 

with which he wrought are many of them preserved to 
this ^ay. He died in 1799, aged 79, having been about 60 
when the church was built. It is surprising that so good 
work could have been wrought with so few and such rude ap- 
pliances. To his skill and thoroughness the village is in- 
debted for many of its most substantial. dwellings.* These 
houses mark an era in the architecture of the village, and their 
workmanship is in striking contrast with that of all the older 
dwellings. Among these earlier houses two or three classes 
are also easily distinguishable, as to their age and style 
of construction. Upon this church Captain Woodruff be- 
stowed the utmost care — carving out with his knife the capi- 
tals on the pulpit and the fine work of the sounding-board, 
in which the wondrous green vines were conspicuous, which 
were the admiration of other generations. He spared no 
labor or care that the materials should be of the best, and 
that the work should be most thoroughly done.f We have no 

* The dwelling-houses built by Capt. Woodruff are the following : The Solomon 
Cowles house facing the road into the south meadow ; the John Mix house ; the 
Samuel Deming house ; the liomanta Norton or Martin Cowles house (1785) ; 
the Samuel S. Cowles house (1769), built for Samuel Smith ; the north part of the 
Thomas Smith house; the Major Hooker house; the William L. Cowles house; 
Col. Fisher Gay's house (1770) ; the William Whitman house; the Elijah Lewis 
house (1789) ; the Buck House; the homestead of Noadiah Woodruff. 

t The stuff was clear of all knots, and whenever there was occasion to cover or 
case any of the posts or girths, a single length of boarding was invariably 
selected. The shingles were of white cedar, and remain to this day as they were 
originally laid — with the exception that here and there one has been loosened 
from its place. This extraordinary covering was painted in 1793, and only then. 
The frame is of the heaviest white oak timber, and is still entirely sound and the 
lines of the building are perfectly true. The top of the spire is some 150 feet 
high, and the spire itself was completed below and lifted to its place along the 

tower. The cost of the house was £1750 ISs. lO^d., and was defraved a; follows : 

'• 

Oct. 1771. By Rev. Mr. Timothy Pitkin, 

Dec. " " the first sixpenny vote, 

" " " the second " 

" " " the fourpenny vote, 

" " " three Individ ualf?, 

Nov. 1772. " a vote of Is. Id., - 
Balance, 

Mr. Pitkin's salary at this time was £125, the parsonage laud in the meadow, 
and twenty-five cords of wood. 



£20 


00 


00 


3.52 


13 


4 1-4 


352 


13 


4 1 4 


235 


02 


9 3-4 


1 


19 


00 


748 


11 


02 


.•59 


13 


2 1-4 



12 

information as to where he found the design of the edifice.* 
We only know that this, like many other of the best churches 
in New England, has a general resemblance to the Old South 
Church in Boston, wliich was erected in 1729-BO.t The 
interior of this house was divided on the ground floor by 
aisles as at present, except that a row of square pews was 
placed along the walls on every side, a pew in each corner, 
with one or two benches by the north and the south doors. An 
aisle extended from the west door to the pulpit, as at present, 
another aisle from the south to the north door, the two 
dividing the body of the house into four blocks, each contain- 
ing six pews. All those remained unpainted till they were re- 
moved in I806, and in them all not a defect or knot was to 
be seen. 

Looking down upon the middle aisle was the formidable 
pulpit, with a window behind it. It was reached by a stair- 
case on the north side, and was overhung by a wondrous 
canopy of wood, with a roof like the dome of a Turkish 
mosque, attached to the wall behind by some hidden device, 
which stimulated the speculative inquiries of the boys, 

* It resembles very closely the brick church in Wethersfield which was erected 
ten years earlier — differing chiefly in being five feet shorter and two i'eet narrower, 
and in having more spacious galleries, especially in front. This last feature is to be 
accoutitcd for by the greater population through the then widely extended parish. 
The workmanship of the newer edifice for solidity ^eems to be superior — though 
the older church is well preserved and has the advantage over the Farmington 
church in having been altered later, with one or two important improvements 
upon the changes made in this. 

t Some of the older churches, like the old South of Boston, and the churches in 
Guilford and Milford, were furnished with a second tier of galleries. But doubt- 
less the fathers had by this time learned by experience that it was sufficiently 
difficult to enforce order in a single gallery. 

The following extract of a letter from Rev. Thomas Ruggles to Rev. Thomas 
Prince, pastor of the old South Church in Boston, deserves notice here. The let- ' 
ter was dated June 10, 17-i9 : " Old Guilford raised a meeting house June, 1712, 
68 feet long and 46 feet wide. A steeple 120 feet high was built at the west end 
of it in 1726. This was the first steeple built in the Colony of Connecticut." The fol- 
lowing is also interesting : " At a meeting of the inhabitants of the old or 
western j)arish in Guilford Jan. 19, 1725-6, voted that the belfry and spire of the 
meeting house in this society shall be built in the fashion and proportion of the 
belfry and spire of the churcii at Newport, Rhode Island, so near as the Commit- 
tee can obtain it to be done." 



13 

long before they could comprehend the graver mysteries to 
which it was supposed to give resonant emphasis. Along 
the front of the pulpit was the deacons' seat* in which sat 
two worthies whose saintly dignity shone with added luster 
and solemnity on the days of holy communion. On the 
right of the pulpit was the minister's pew, and on the left 
the pew for those who were widows indeed, in dependence as 
well as in loneliness. From this narrow pew there opened a 
door beneath the pulpit into a closet, of which it was fabled 
that it was reserved by the tything man for boys especially 
unruly in behavior. The gallery was surrounded by a row of 
pewsf with three rows of long benches in front, nsing as is 
usual above one another. 

In the winter of 1825-6 the pews and the long seats in the 
gallery were demolished and slips were substituted for them, 
with doors for more private and special occupation. In 1836 
the pews were removed from the floor, the old pulpit and 
sounding-board disappeared, new windows were made with 
'blinds, etc., at a cost of some -f 2,186.70. These repairs were 
executed after the designs, and under the direction of Tim- 
othy Porter, a well trained and thorough builder, who effected 
most of the alterations in the spirit of the original. Much of 
the cost of these alterations was defrayed from the last legacy 
of Solomon Langdon. The steeple was surmounted by a 
gilded crown, which remained sole survivor and witness of 
the days of colonial dependence, till the year 1836, when 
it was taken down to be regilded but not restored to its 
old position. It deserves to be noticed, as marking- 
progress, that in 1795 the doors leading into the house above 
and below were provided with puUies, which made their 
presence audible for at least forty years after. In 1810 two 
large chandeliers^ were procured, for singing-meetings at 

* A table Avas attached to the deacons' scat or pew by hinges, wliich when used 
was kept in place by braces of twisted iron of a comely fashion. 

t High above all the rest b the two entrances were lifted two pews for those of 
the African race who sat in the galleries. Corresponding to these in position 
we're two seats on the floor below. 

I These chandeliers were made by tlie wcll-renicmbercd tin niannfacturer and 
dealer, Asa Andrews. 



14 

night, — an evening sermon or lecture being scarcely known, 
— wliicli some few of those present will remember, as not un- 
sightly of their kind, although the kind did not attain the 
highest conceivable beauty. These were simply urn-shaped 
blocks of wood painted white, suspended from the ceiling 
above by long rods of iron — twisted here and there for decora- 
tion. The eye of many a boy has followed those rods, with an 
impression of mystery, as to how they were held in their place. 
From these central urns several fiat strips of iron proceeded, 
curving downward and upward, holding sockets of tin, to 
receive their tallow candles on those very rare occasions on 
which the church was lighted. 

It was not till 1824 that stoves were introduced. Previous 
to this period foot-stoves were the sole substitute, for the 
filling of which the people from a distance were dependent on 
the liberal fires which were prepared at the hospitable houses 
in the vicinity. Many a time have I seen so dignified a per- 
son as the aged Governor Treadwell strike his well-booted 
feet together to elicit some warmth as he came in from the 
snow, before the morning service began. 

The place where this house was erected was known as the 
Meeting House Green as early as 1718, as a new school house 
was directed to be built upon the place witli this designation ; 
" near where the old chestnut tree stood,'' which was doubt- 
less one of the noble remnants of the original forest. As early 
as 1743 a general permission was granted to sucii farmers 
as lived at a distance to erect small houses along the fences 
on eitlier side of this green for their comfort on the Sabbath, 
or as it was phrased, for '* their duds and horses." Two such 
houses stood on the east line, near the town pound, within the 
memory of many, as late as 1818 or '20. Repeated encroach 
ments have been made upon this enclosure which have been 
now and then stoutly resisted. The only record of any early 
effort to make the place attractive is found in the vote which 
directs the Committee " to bank up decently the new meeting 
house." At what time the ever memorable Lombardy poplars 
were planted which so long surrounded the church and the 
green, we do not know. We know that they lined the village 



15 

street and were planted in double rows throug;h the cemetery. 
In 1806 we find the committee directed to secure tlie shade 
trees set out on tlie green in such manner as they think proper, 
and also '' to erect a railing or posts to hitch horses to." These 
poplars were planted some eight to ten feet distant from the 
meeting house and about the same distance from one anotlier 
in front and rear. A double line attended the walk to the 
front door. Another row bordered the path along near the 
village street. I can well remember when the horses at- 
tached to wagons and other vehicles were tied during service 
time along the street on either side in front ; also behind at the 
railing which guarded the sacred poplars. In a hot sum- 
mer afternoon the stamp and occasional scream of these 
horses often saluted the ear during sermon-time, while the 
swaying sprays and flickering leaves of the poplars met the 
eye through the staring windows. N.ow and then one or two 
of the many sturdy hearers — of whom a score might be stand- 
ing divested of their heavy coats to keep themselves reverently 
awake after a hot week of harvest work — would go out quietly 
to adjust some strife among the horses, or to extricate an un- 
lucky steed from a serious entanglement. 

The swaying poplars will never be forgotten by those who 
became familiar with their moving walls of glossy greenery as 
they guarded the sanctuary. How fickle are human fashions 
and the tastes whicli admire them ! In 1818 the Committee 
were directed to cause the two rows of poplars from the meet- 
ing house to the road " to be immediately removed." In 1811 
the decree went forth that the line which had struggled for 
existence so long and doubtfully nearest the church should 
be removed and disposed of " at their discretion." The green 
remained only partially inclosed till 1853. The highway ran 
diagonally across and in every direction about it till that time. 

Strange as it may appear, no sheds for horses were erected 
before 1844, long after the other extensive alterations were 
effected, although the necessity of providing them was earnestly 
pressed as early as 1807. There was, however, at the north 
end of the house beyond the steeple a primitive " horse-block," 
some 6 or 6 feet long, 3 feet wide and 2 feet high, of native 



16 

red sandstone, along which many a two horse wagon has 
driven and hastily receiv^ed its living freiglit of sturdy sons 
and laughing daughters, while the horses were rearing and 
plunging till they were off in dust and wind and sleet. Where 
novt^ are all those simple and earnest souls, so many of whom 
cherished so carefully those words of love and hope from the 
pulpit, which cheered their ride homeward and southed and ele- 
vated the labors of the following week ? The whipping-post 
must not be forgotten, from which now and then fearful 
screams in the week-time would penetrate the closed windows 
of the neighboring school-house and appall the younger chil- 
dren, while the older and more hardened boys looked signifi- 
cantly at the master's rod or ferule.* Chained to the whip- 
ping-post were the stocks, in which now and then a drunken 
vagabond found himself encased, but which in the coarse ot 
nature decayed, and survived in disgraceful impotence long 
after their occupation was gone. 

But I have lingered longer than I should upon the old build- 
ing and its surroundings, before considering their relations to 
this community and its history. 

The edifice itself is a memorial full of significance. A 
building so large as this and so expensive indicates that the 
community had made important advances in wealth, enter 
prise, and self-respect. It shows plainly that the barbarism 
and roughness incident to pioneer life had been outgrown. 
From 1640 to 1720, 80 years, this town had fronted an almost 
unbroken forest which extended from the wooded horizon 
which we see from this slope, westward to the Housatonic and 
northwestward to Lake George. This was the hunting ground 
of the Tunxis tribe and the marauding ground of the dreaded 
Moliawk, who might appear either as the foe of his timid sub- 
ject, or perchance as his ally for the destruction of the whites. 
For the first sixty years there was a numerous and not always 
friendly tribe in a garrison and village almost within musket 
shot of this church. f At the end of the first century the 

* In 1827 or '8 a man was whipped on the public green of New Haven. 

t Early in 1657 an Indian killed a woman and her maid and fir(>d the house, 
occasioning the destruction of several buildings. The Indians were forced to deliver 
up the murderer, who was brought to Hartford and executed " as a butcher fells 



17 

Iiuliau bojs were nearly as numerous as the white l)oys of the 
village. The church erected befoj-e this was provided with 
" guard seats," as they were called, where some 10 to 20 men 
could be on the lookout near the doors against a sudden assault. 
The space for these seats was relinquished in 1726 for the erec- 
tion of pews for 8 families, with the provision that the pews 
should be surrendered should there be subsequent occasion to 
mount a guard. Later than this, on some occasion of alarm in- 
creased by the presence of strange Indians, the men of the 
Tunxis tribe were required to present themselves daily at the 
house of Deacon Lee, and pass in review before his daughter, 
whom they admired and feared.* It is pleasant to find, in 
1751, liberty granted to the Christianized Indians to build 
themselves a seat in the meeting house in the north-east corner 
over the staii's.f Relays of men were called for to serve in 
the two or three desperate wars in which the French and In- 
dians combined for the possession of tlie northern and western 
line of posts, and in which victory for the French might l)ring 
the tomahawk and the torch into this valley. This town sent 
its share of men to Ticonderoga, and probably to Louisburg ; 
and in this way it trained, as did all the rest of New England, 
its experienced veterans and its hardy novices for service 
in the War of Independence. 

an ox." — \Diary of John Hull. Transactions and Publications of the American 
Antiquarian Societi/, vol. iii., p. 180.] 

In 167.5 Simsbury, then Massacoe, a frontier settlement to the north, was de- 
serted by its inhabitants— some forty families— and totally burned. So complete 
was the desolation that the returning settlers found it difRcult to discover the 
places where their effects had been secreted. 

* Deacon Lee lived a little distance northward from this church on the west 
side of the street. The Indian garrison and village extended southward to the 
point of land at the confluence of the Pequabuc and the Tunxis rivers. It is very 
easy to perceive the reason why this place was selected as their chief residence. 
It is not easy to walii along the brow of the hill which overlooks the reservation so 
long styled ilie Indian neck, without picturing the rude wigwams scattered along 
this sunny terrace, with canoes idly floating below on the stream which was 
filled with shad and salmon, while the deer were abundant in the forest that 
stretched westward and northward to the Mohawk country. 

t Fiom the State Records for 17.33, '4 and '6, appropriations are ordered from 
the public treasury for " dieting of the Indian lads at 4 shillings per week for the 
time they attend the school in said town." In 1734, £33 6s. were paid ; in 1736, 
X28. 

3 



18 

What this community had been from 1700 and onward, and 
what it had now become could not be better symbolized than 
by the old church edifice which was commenced in 1709, 
completed in 1714, as contrasted with this very carefully con- 
structed and expensive church in 1772. The older — the 
second clmrch was fifty feet square, with height propor- 
tional, and furnished with a cupola or turret which tradition 
has always placed in the centre, from which the bell rope was 
suspended so soon as a bell was provided. Tiiat this tradition ' 
was correct is rendered nearly certain by the existence of 
churches of a similar form at that period. The church in 
Hingham, the oldest standing in New England, was built in 
1680. It is 5r) by 45, the posts being 20 feet high. The cupola 
rises from the middle of the roof. How hard it was to l)uild the 
churcii of 1709 — 1772, and how rude it was when built, is ob- 
vious from the fact that the first tax of a penny in a pound 
was spent in procuring the hails. Another vote respected the 
glass and lead. Another directs that " it be ceiled with good 
sawn boards on the within side up to the railings and filled 
with mortal- up to the girts." Later thoughtfulness of our 
fierce northwesters suggested the vote that the mortar should 
be continued along the second story. Two tiers of new 
seats were ordered, one on each side the aisle which extended 
to the east door. It follows from this and other notices, that 
the house stood &,loiig the street to the northwest of this, that 
the pulpit was on the west side and the entrances were from 
the north and south and east.* In 1731 the purchase of a bell 
was ordered, and in 1738 a town clock. Before the bell was 
provided, the beat of drum called the people together on Sun- 
days and public days at a cost of ,£1 lO.s. the year. New 
seats are next ordered for the gallery ; now and then a pew is 
erected at the expense of the occupants. f In 1746 a commit- 

* The seats from the first house were probably removed to the second and were 
placed fachig the pvilpit. except the two new ones, which, it may be conjectured, 
filled the space not covered by the old seats, now transferred to a lar<;er house. 
Mrs. Whitman, the pastor's wife, sat in a pew at the south, i. e., the right hand of 
the pulpit, but this pew was built at Mr. Whitman's exjjense, and after his de- 
cease it was purchased liy the society. 

t In 175;) the society ordered all the seats excej^t those in front to be pulled 
down and replaced by pews. 



19 

tee was appointed to repair the house and see what can be 
done " to prevent its spreading." From that time onward it 
was doomed to destruction. It was neitlier large enough nor 
good enough for the community whicli was beginning to be 
conscious of wealth and strength and which was rapidly grow- 
ing in its resources and its ambition. It was time that the 
old structure of uu painted boards on its sides within, and its 
naked rafters or joists above, should give place to something 
better. 

At the time when this church was built, the original town 
of Farmington was as yet undivided, extending from Simsbury 
on the north to Wallingford on the south ; from Wethersfield 
and Middletown on the east to Harwinton and Waterbury on 
the west, about fifteen miles square. Within this township 
were the parishes or parts of parishes of Kensington, New 
Britain, Southington, New Cambridge, Burlington, and North- 
ington. The town meetings were held in this village, which 
was as large or larger than it is at present, and felt a motherly 
pride in, and perhaps asserted somewhat of a motherly au- 
thority over its full-grown daughters, who were now settled in 
their separate homes. The wealth of the town was considerable 
though neither trade nor manufactures had made any special 
progress, there being in the village only two or tliree mer- 
chants. The Grand Lists for the years 1778-1780 indicate 
no overgrown estates but many thriving households. The new 
settlements in Litchfield county from 1720 onward must them- 
selves have opened valuable markets for the products of this 
fertile valley and these smiling slopes. 

The as yet imperfect roads and the few not very comfort- 
able vehicles, rendered communication with Hartford, Weth- 
ersfield, and New Haven somewhat difficult, and shut up the 
town to the development of its own resources and the cherish- 
ing of its own independence. It was a fit thing that this 
large and flourishing parish of this large and flourishing town 
should erect this capacious and stately meeting house as the 
expression of its public spirit and its well developed resources, 
to say nothing of the nobler motives which beat strongly in 
the heart of the staunchly puritan community, — reverence for 



20 

the dreaded Jehovah and faith in his fidelity to those who 
honored his day and his ordinances. The parish was large 
and every " Sabbath-day" hundreds came from every quarter to 
fill this spacious house. From Red Stone Hill and the Great 
Plains on the southwest, from Lovelytown on the far north- 
west-through the Langdon Quarter, from Scott's Swamp to 
the line of Bristol, from the woods of Burlington on the 
west, from the remotest Eastern Farms, from Cider brook on 
the river, from the distant parts of White Oak to its moun- 
tain pass and along its mountain slope, and from all the 
many farm houses and thrifty farms between — more numerous 
and more thrifty than now, with families that also were far 
more numerous then, trooped every pleasant Sunday morning 
hundreds upon hundreds, the elders on horseback, with their 
wives on pillions Ijehind, the sturdy sons on lialf-broken colts 
and the daughters on the gentler fillies, now and then a house- 
hold in a heavy farm wagon laden with half a score — till seven 
or eiglit hundred filled up the pews below and swarmed in the 
galleries. The Sabbath was the gathering day for the tribe, 
for to the duty of waiting on the Lord Jehovah all were drawn 
by social excitement, as well as prompted by conscience and 
duty, by habit and tradition, by the fear of God and of man. 
Whosoever in the large parish failed to be an habitual attend- 
ant at this one house of prayer showed most unmistakably 
that he feared not God neither regarded man. He became 
literally a social outl'aw. His house and his farm were re- 
garded as accursed, for he had deliberately disowned the 
covenant and forsaken the temple of the living God! 

Soon after the War of the Revolution, with the returning 
activities of peace, this town became the seat of an extensive 
trade. The town which had guarded the frontier undauntedly 
for three-fourths of a century in face of an Indian village and 
the dark forest of the Mohawks beyond, now began to com- 
mand the trade of the new towns that were springing up in 
every part of that forest. From along the Litclifield turnpike 
on the west — the turnpike which, as long as New York and 
its vicinity was held by the English, was the high road from 
Boston and Hartford to the Middle States — down the valley of 



21 

the Tiinxis from the northwest towards Pittsfield and Albany, 
up the Farmington from the north and across the Great Plains 
from the south and southeast, there was gathered an active 
mercantile trade which was first set in motion l^y John and 
Chauncey Deming, who were followed by the five sons of 
Elijah Cowles,* and the two sons of Solomon Cowles.f Some 
of these merchants set up branch houses in the neighboring 
towns. Some, not content with buying their goods at Hart- 
ford and New York, arranged to import them and in their 
own vessels. The signs on the numerous stores bore the in- 
scriptions of " West India and East India goods," and in some 
instances these goods came directly to the hands of the Farm- 
ington merchants. At one time three West India vessels at 
least were owned in Farmington, which were dispatched from 
Wethersfield or New Haven. One at least was sent to China, 
and brought from the then far distant Cathay, silks and teas, 
and Chinaware bearing the initials of these daring importers. 
The Indian corn which was raised so abundantly in the 
meadows and on the uplands was extensively kiln-dried and 
sent to the West Indies, and with the horses and the staves 
which the then new near " West " could so abundantly furnish, 
was the chief export which brought back sugar, molasses, and 
Santa Cruz rum. At a somewhat later period an active trade 
in tinware and dry goods, was pushed into the Atlantic South- 
ern States and employed Lhe energies and excited the am- 
bition of many of the young men of the village and the town. 
Large fortunes were occasionally the results of these ventures. 
Not infrequently the young man who went forth in the ma- 
turity of strength and the confidence of hope, never returned ! 
The old meeting house began to rustle with silks and to be 
gay with ribbons. The lawyers wore silk and velvet breeclies ; 
broadcloth took the place of homespun for coat and overcoat, 
and corduroy displaced leather for breeches and pantaloons. | 

* Seth, Elijah, Jonathan, Gad, and Martin. 

t Solomon and Zenas. 

I Breeches of deer and calf skin were very common a century since as we learn 
from the faithful testimony of Governor Treadwell respecting the dress of that 
generation (1802). (See Porter's Historical Discourse, pp. 81, 82, 83.) We 
gather from the old account books, that the price of making a pair of leather 
breeches was about 4 slilllings, and of a dressed deerskin, was 20 shillings. 



22 

As tlie next century opened, pianos were heard in the best 
houses, thundering out tlic " Battle of Prague" as a tour de- 
force, and the gayest of gigs and the most pretentious of phae- 
tons rolled through the village. Houses were built with 
dancing halls for evening gayety, and the most liberal hospi- 
tality, recommended by the best of cookery, was dispensed at 
sumptuous dinners and suppers.* 

The military spirit of the town was fostered by its wealth 
and enterprise. Upon this meeting-house green on the first 
Mondays of May and September, and some one or two other 
days in the autumn, there were gathered the three military 
companies of the town — the Grenadiers, select and self- 
respecting, glorying in the buff and blue of the Revolution, 
with a helmet of more recent device but of Roman model — 
the Infantry, or bushwhackers, numerous, miscellaneous, and 
frolicsome, whose straggling line and undisciplined and un- 
disciplinable platoons were the derision of the boys and the 
shame of all military men — and a small but select company of 
cavalry, or " troopers," as they were called in contrast with the 
" trainers." These last consisted of" the horse taming " young 
men of the community — more commonly sons of farmers in the 
remoter districts, who delighted in the opportunity to show their 
horsemanship, and thus vie with the aristocratic grenadiers 

* This period of active business and mercantile enterprise and the rapid accu- 
mulation of wealth extended from 1790 till about 1825. In 1802 Governor Tread- 
well records that " a greater capital is employed in [trade] than in any inland 
town in the State." Mr. Chauncey Deming was first among these merchants for 
strength and positiveness of character and for business ability. He was foremost in 
enterprise, and was an active and influential director in one of the banks of Hart- 
ford and Middletown. During the War of 1812, all the banks of the State ex- 
ce[)t the Hartford Bank suspended payments in specie, and it is confidently 
asserted that Mr. Deming held large specie reserves in Farmington, which he 
produced from time to time to save the credit of the bank. No one who ever saw 
him in his vigorous old age as he galloped along the street upon his strong and 
elegant horse, or as he sat in church, with his powdered queue and his bright blue 
coat with gilt buttons, will forget the impre!sion. 

The decline of this trade began with the opening of a more ready communica- 
tion with Hartford, by the extension of the Litchfield and the Albany turnpike 
roads over the Talcott Mountain. The Farmington capitalists were large 
owners in the stock of both these roads. They did not foresee that by making it 
easier for themselves to go to Hartford, they .would make it easier for their 
customers to do the same. 



23 

who were more largely from the village. In the autumn also 
was the annual " field day " for the regiment, which was sum- 
moned to meet once a year on one of the immense rye fallows 
that stretched out upon the Great Plains.* To these military 
organizations the meeting-house was in some sense the center. 
The minister was summoned yearly to offer prayer upon the 
Green amid the assembled three companies and invited to 
dine with the officers and those aspiring privates who chose to 
indulge in the expense of a dinner for a trifling sum. Should 
it rain on training day beyond endurance the meeting-house 
was opened to protect- the soldiers from a drenching. These 
walls have many a time reverberated to drum and fife and the 
tramp of files along the aisles, while excited boys looked 
down from the gallery with wonder at so strange a spectacle, 
breathless with misgiving at the disturbance of their wonted 
associations with the place. 

Around the meeting-house were gathered representatives 
of all the population on the three or four days of Election 
week in the Spring, and the two days after the annual Thanks- 
giving in the autumn. The Election days were usually devoted 
to ball-playing, in which adults participated with the zest of 
boys, and delighted to show that their youthful energy was 
not extinct, and that the tales of their youthful achievements 
were not mythical exaggerations. Wrestling matches, throw- 
ing of quoits, and other feats, were by-plays to the principal 
performances. Even the holidays and sports of the village 
were under the shadow of the meeting-house and sanctioned 
by its vicinity. t 

Recollections and associations like these attach themselves 

* The consummation of the military glory of the village was reached when it 
could boast of a Major General whose staff was largely made up from its wealthy 
young men. The distinguished white horse on wliich the General rode contrili- 
uted not a little to the glory of the General and his staff. However sober and ^ 
prosaic this iiorse might seem during most of the months of .several of his last 
years, lie never failed to grow young and gay as the autumnal reviews required 
his services. 

t We are obliged to add that the punch and toddy which were freely distributed 
on these occasions were often " brewed " on the steps and at the doors of the 
sTnctuary. But we are glad to be able to say that among the hundreds who 
assembled on such occasions it was rare to see any one intoxicated. 



24 

to every village clmrcli and village green in Christendom. 
These are uniformly the central gatliering places for the com- 
nmnity that dwells around them. But the Puritan meet- 
ing-house of a New England village, it should he remembered, 
iield other relatious to the community than those of a place 
of worship. These special relations we may not overlook in 
commemorating one of the few of these old Puritan meeting- 
houses which was erected at a time wlien these influences 
were fully recognized, and in which they have continued as 
long as in most of the New England towns. The Puritan 
meeting-house was freely used for other assemblies than those 
convened for religious worship, for the reason that the Puritan 
believed so fervently in the application of Christian principles 
to all the departments of life. These truths were, first and 
foremost, to be applied to the inner springs of action in the 
heart ; next, to the external conduct ; and last, but not least, 
to the ordering of that self-governed society of freemen, the 
New England town, which, in the heart of the Puritan, was 
honored as an ordinance of God. 

When the Puritan community built its meeting house, it 
devoted it primarily to the uses of religious worship — primarily 
but not exclusively, for if it could also serve the political or 
the educational necessities of the community better than any 
other edifice, it was freely employed for such uses. To close 
the doors of the sanctuary against assemblies of this kind 
was regarded by the Puritans as gross superstition, akin to 
the idolatry of the altar and the priesthood.* The New Eng- 

* It may abate the horror of a certain class of readers to learn that the custom 
of holding parliamentary elections in the parish churches was even recently by no 
means uncommon even in England. I quote from a well known author: "The 
poll was to be held in the church — a not uncommon usage in country boroughs 
— but which, from its rarity, struck great awe into the Kingswell folk. The church 
warden was placed in the clerk's desk to receive votes." — Memoir of John Halifax, 
Gentleman, chap. xxiv. A town meeting in the times of the American Re\ olution 
^s thus described by John Trumbull : 

High o'er the rout, on pulpit stairs, 
Mid den of thieves in house of prayers, 
******* 

Stood forth the constable ; and i)ore 
His staff, like Mercury's wand of yore. 

******* 

Above and near the Hermetic staff 



25 
• 
land town meeting, which was sagaciously recognized by De 

Tocqueville as the germ from which was developed our Amer- 
ican political life, was uniformly held in the meeting house. 
Tliis was not merely nor mainly because the Puritans in the 
early days had no other place in which to assemble, but be- 
cause the work which was transacted there had the most inti- 
mate relations to the kingdom of God, and because it was 
transacted with the gravest dignity and in a religious spirit. 
The town meeting was uniformly opened by prayer and oc- 
casionally made memorable by a sermon. The first sermon 
which was printed by the Rev. Dr. Porter, was delivered in 
this house in 1815. Its subject was ' The Sin of Perjury, in 
violating the Freeman's Oath.' 

The Puritan did not honor the house of Christian worship 
as such by superstitious reverence. He was careful not to 
uncover his head in the week time when he entered its walls, 
for the same reason that he would not bow to what was called 
an altar because he deemed it a sin to worship any material 
semblance or symbol. But if he did not reverence the house 
as a structure, he was careful to honor it when it was used as 
a place of worship. When the Lord was in His holy temple, 
he never forgot that he should keep silence before Him. No 
man was more careful in his attendance or more reverent in 
his demeanor when God was present with His people in His 
house, or when Christ had come into the midst of two or 
three disciples who were assembled in His name. 

It is singular that those who are most ready to charge the 
Puritans with unchristian irreverence for their free use of the 
meeting-house are also most forward to charge them with Ju- 
daical superstition. In principle they were less Judaical 
than their opponents. Both were Judaical in a degree, but 
the non-ritualistic Puritans least of the two. The opponents 
of the Puritans treated the church as a temple, the eucharist 



The moderator's upper half 
In grandeur o'er the cushion bowed 
Like Sol half seen behind a cloud. 
Beneath stood voters of all colors, 
Whigs, Tories, orators, and brawlers. 

McFingal, Canto I. 



26 

as a sacrifice, its administrators as priests qualified to medinte 
between God and man by virtue of an apostolic succession, and 
holding the keys of the kingdom of heaven through sacramen- 
tal rites. The Puritans protested that the hour had already 
come when men should no longer say that in Jerusalem only 
men ought to worship, and that all men worship the Father 
who worship Him in spirit and in truth. Concerning the state, 
their opponents held that it was ordained of God in the Jew- 
ish way, by hereditary descent and divine right, — symbolized 
by priestly anointing. The Puritans held that as in the 
churcli, so in the state, it was from the free election of its 
constituent members that all its rulers proceed, and to the 
the decisions of its organized assemblies alone divine authority 
belong. That the iconoclastic zeal and the zealous protests 
of the Puritan may not have led him to excess in the disre- 
gard of consecrated places and of outward observances, I do 
not contend ; but that, as between the two, the non-conformist 
was the least of a Jew and a devotee of superstition, we may 
fairly conclude. While both parties were Judaical in their 
spirit, the Anglican was a Jewish rituajist, who clung to 
forms and rites with minute ])unctiliousness ; while the 
Puritan was a Jewish pro phet who boldly and sternly rebuked 
everything which might take the place of spiritual worship, 
and searched the heart with the severest scrutiny. Neither 
had effectually learned that the Christian church has not " re- 
ceived the spirit of bondage unto fear, but the spirit of adop- 
tion," which is also a spirit *' of power, of love and of a 
sound mind." 

But whether we approve or condemn, the fact cannot be 
questioned that the regular town meetings were held in this 
edifice till 1830, when tlie society politely bowed out the town 
by placing at its disposal the Union Hall in the Academy 
building. It is worthy of notice, however, that at the first 
meeting of the parish after the dedication, in December, 
1772, it was voted to give the town the materials from the 
old church for building a Town House on this plat. It is prob- 
able that the parish was more moved in this act by its concern 
for the newly finished edifice, than by any feeling of its special 
sacredness. There was soon pressing and frequent occasion 



27 

for town meetings that were anxious and thronged ; meetings 
that were grave and solemn, — in which the help of God was 
required and fervently sought for. Scarcely had this house 
been dedicated by this community when, after a brief respite 
of some ten years from the sacrifices and exposures of wasting- 
war, it was excited by those more alarming premonitions 
which, in two and a half years, were followed by the contests 
at Lexington and Bunker Hill. These contests were preceded 
and followed by a succession of town meetings in which this 
house was thronged by excited multitudes, and this green 
was dotted by earnest groups and crowds, now whispering 
and pointing to this and that suspected traitor, or gesticu- 
lating with determined resolve. Among the resolutions that 
were debated and passed the following are significant : 

"At a very full meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Farmingtou, Legally 
warned and held in said Farmington, the ISth day of June, 1774, Colonel John 
Strong, Moderator : 

Voted, That the act of Parliament for blocking up the Port of Boston is an In- 
vasion of the Rights and Privileges of every American, and as such we are Deter- 
mined to oppose the same, with all other such arbitrary and tyrannical acts in 
every suitable Way and Manner, that may be adopted in Geu'^ral Congress : to 
the Intent we may be instrumental in Securing and Transmitting our Eights 
and Privileges Inviolate, to the Latest Posterity. 

That the fate of American freedom Greatly Depends upou the Conduct of the 
Inhabitants of the Town of Boston in the Present Alarming Crisis of Public af- 
fairs : "We therefore entreat them by Every thing that is Dear and Sacred, to 
Persevere with Unremitted Vigileuce and Resolution, till their Labour shall be 
crowned with the desired Success. 

That as many of tlie inhabitants of the town of Boston, must, in a short 
time be redaced to the Utmost Distress, in Consequence of their Port Bill, we 
deem it our indispensable Duty, by every Effectual and Proper Method, to assist 
in aifording them speedy Relief. 

In pursuance of which Fisher Gay, Selah Hart, Stephen Hotchkiss, Esqs., and 
Messrs. Samuel Smith, Noadiah Hooker, Amos Wadsworth, Simeon Strong, 
James Pcrcival, Elijah Hooker, Mathcw Cole, Jonathan Root, Josiah Cowles, 
Daniel Lankton, Jonathan Andrews, Jonathan Woodruff, Aaron Day, Timo- 
thy Clark, Josiah Lewis, Hezekiah Gridley, Jr., Asa Upson, Amos Barnes 
Stephen Barnes, Jr., Ichabod Norton, Joseph Miller, William Woodford, Jedidiah 
Norton, Jr., Gad Stanley, John Lankton, Elnathan Smith, Thos. Upson, Elisha 
Booth, Samuel North, Jr., Theo. Hart, and Reson Gridley, be a committee, with 
all convenient speed, to take in subscriptions : Wheat, Rye, Indian corn, and 
other provisions of the Inhabitants of this Town, and to Collect and Transport 
the same to the Town of Boston, there to be delivered to the Select Men of the 



28 

Town of Boston, to be by them Distributed at their Discretion, to those who are 
incapacitated to procure a necessary subsistence in consequence of the late oppres- 
sive Measures of Administration. 

That Wm. Judd, Fisher Gay, Selah Hart, and Stephen Hotclikiss, Esqs., 
Messrs. John Treadwell, Asahel Wadsworth, Jonathan Koot, Sam. Smith, Icha- 
bod Norton, Noadiah Hooker, and Gad Stanley, be, and they are hereby ap- 
pointed a Committee to keep up a Correspondence with the Towns of this and the 
neighboring Colonies, and that they forthwith transmit a copy of the votes of this 
Meeting to the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Boston, and also 
cause the same to be made public. 

Sept. 20, Tuesday, 1774, it was voted that the Selectmen be directed to purchase 
Thirty Hundred weight of Lead to be added to the Town stock for the use of the 
Town. 

At the same meeting, voted, that the Selectmen be directed to procure Ten 
Thousand French flints to be added to the Town Stock for the use of the 
Town. 

Voted, That the Selectmen be Directed to purchase thirty six barrels of 
Powder, with what is already provided, to be added to the Town Stock for the 
use of the Town. 

On the 12th day of December, 1774, this town by their vote did approve and 
adopt the doings of the Continental Congress, held at Philadelphia on the 5th day 
of September last ; also, on the same day, it was voted 

Whereas, upon a vote of the Town of Farmington assembled in Town Meeting 
on the 12th day of December, 1774, to adopt the doing of the Continental Con- 
gress, one Matthias Loaming, and Nehemiah Royce, utterly Refused to vote for 
the same, we do therefore Consider them as Open Enemies to theircountry and as 
such, we will, according to the Resolution of the Congress, from this Day for- 
ward, withdraw all connection from them, untill they shall make Public Retrac- 
tion of their Principles and Sentiments in the matters aforesaid . 

On the 26th day of December it was voted, that the town would leave it to the 
inspecting committee to determine every matter and thing respecting Torys dur- 
ing the town's pleasure. 

At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Farmington, held March 26th, 
1777. At the Same meeting, the Rev. Sam. Newell and Timothy Pitkin, Messrs. 
John Treadwell, Noah Porter, Hezekiah Wadsworth, Jonathan Root, Jehiel 
Cowles, Timothy Clark, Noah Cowles, Oliver Hart, Elijah Hooker, Asa Upson, 
Amos Barnes, Ichabod Norton, Tim. Thompson, Jacob Foot, Joseph Woodford, 
Col. Lee, Maj. Stanley, Stephen Barnes, Jr., Simeon Hart, and Moses Deming, be 
a committee to take into consideration the regulations of his Honor the Governor, 
and Council of Safety, dated March 13th, 1777, and to report their opinion, etc. 

This meeting was by vote adjourned for one hour and a half, and met accord- 
ing to adjournment. Upon the report of Said Committee, it was voted that the 
Sum of ten pounds lawful money be given by this town to every able-bodied, 
effective man inhabitant or residing in this town, in addition to the several en- 
couragements already given, that shall voluntarily enlist in the Continental ser- 
vice in the 8th battallion, for three years, or during the present war, so far as shall 
be necessary to supply our quota of 217 men ; and also the like sum often pounds 
of lawful money to be given to all who have already enlisted within this town 
that are recorded toward such quota, provided a number of men sufficient to sup- 
ply the deficiency of our quota as aforesaid can by such encouragement be 



29 

obfained ; to be raised by a tax on the sales and rateable estate of the inhabitants 
of said town, and to be collected as soon as may be; and when collected, to be 
deposited in the treasury of sid town, to be under the direction of a commifee 
appointed for that purpose, five pounds of which bounty to be paid by said com- 
mittee to such persons respeciively as shall hereafter enlist themselves as aforesaid, 
on their enlistment if collected, and the other five pounds to be paid to such per- 
sons at the end of one year after their enlistinent, and when the quota is com- 
pleted as aforesaid, the like proportion of such bounty to be paid to them that 
have already enlisted. 

At the same meeting, voted, A tax or rate of four pence and a quarter on the 
pound on the last list, to be collected and improved agreeable to the above 
vote. 

And at the same meeting, voted, a rate of four pence and one farthing on the 
pound on the same list agreeable to the above vote. 

At the same meeting, voted, that Messrs. John Treadwell, Noah Porter, and 
Solomon Whitman, be, and they are hereby appointed, a committee to draw on 
the treasury of this town in favor of such soldiers as have or shall enlist into the 
Continental battallions for three years, or during the present war, agreeable to 
and in pursuance of, the votes of this town this day passed. 

At the same meeting, voted. That Samuel Smith, Martin Bull, Capt. Tread- 
well, Noah Cowles, Elijah Hooker, Jonathan Root, John Curtiss, Asahel 
Barnes, Stephen Hotchkiss, Esq., Capt. Wra. Woodford, Timothy Thompson, 
Elnathan Smith, John Richards, Simeon Hart, John Ward, Stephen Barnes, Jr., 
Jacob Foot, and Thomas Upson, be a committee to take care of the several 
families of the soldiers that have or may enlist into the Continental army, when 
they shall be propei'ly applied to, and see that they are supplied with necessaries 
at the price stated for by law, without any additional cost, and that all the ad- 
ditional cost be paid by the town. 

At the same meeting, voted, that all such persons as shall enlist into the Con- 
tinental service to fill up the 8th battallion, be freed from paying any part of the 
tax or taxes granted by this meeting. 

At the same meeting the following resolve was passed and voted, viz : 

Resolved, That we do mutually pledge our faith and honor to each other and to 
our country, that we will ourselves conscientiously observe and obey the laws of 
this State for preventing oppression, and will use every measure that is proper 
and effectual in our power, to see that the violators of said laws be brought to 
condign punishment. 

On the 22d of Sept., 1777, it was voted, that the committee be directed to pro- 
vide two shirts and two pairs of stockings for each soldier belonging to the Con- 
tinental army that arc enlisted for three years or during the war. 

Also, voted, that the said committee be empowered to procure the articles men- 
tioned in the said regulation, without being limited to any price. 

At the same meeting Capt. James Stoddard and Samuel Curtiss were, by vote, 
chosen constables for the present year. 

In 1775 special encouragement was given to John Treadwell and Martin Bull, 
in the manufacture of Saltpetre. 

Sept. 16, 1777, the first record is made of the administration of the Oath of 
Fidelity to the state of Connecticut, and the oath provided for freemen to a large 
number of persons. 



80 

A similar record is made Dec. 1st, 1777, and others at subsequent dates. 

The inhabitants of the town of Farmington in legal town meeting convened. 
To Isaac Lee, Jr., and John Tread well, Esqs., "Representatives for said town in 
the General Assembly of this state. Gentlemen having in pursuance of the rec- 
ommendation of the Governor of this State taken into serious consideration the 
articles of confederation and perpetual union proposed by the Honorable Con- 
gress of the United States to the consideration and approbation of said States, 
we are of the opinion that there is much wisdom conspicuous in many of said 
articles which in many respects are highly calculated to promote the welfare and 
emolument of the United States and promise the most extensive blessings to us 
and posterity, it is therefore with the utmost pain that we find there is discovera- 
ble in some of said articles which bear an unftivorable aspect to the New lingland 
States, and this in particular, the similarity of customs, manners and senti- 
ments of the nine Western states, and their opposition to the New England 
States in these respects, especially as the power of transacting the most important 
business is vested in nine states, gives us great apprehension that evil conse- 
quences may flow to the prejudice of the New England States — the method of 
appointing courts for the deciding controversies between two or more states which 
will, as the case may be, entirely exclude every person that may be nominated in 
the New England States ; the rule of stating the quota of men for the Conti- 
nental Service in war and mode of apportioning of the public expense, we are 
constrained to say are in our opinion very exceptionable though we are unwilling 
to believe' that they were designed for the prejudice of this and the other New 
England States ; you are therefore dii'ected to use your influence in the General 
Assembly of this State by proper Avays and means that the articles of confedera- 
tion may be amended and altered in the several jjarticulars above mentioned by 
Congress, if such emendations can be made without manifestly endangering the 
independence and liberties of the United States. The emoluments, however, of 
the United States ai'e to govern you in all your deliberations upon this interest- 
ing and important subject. 

Voted, That the other articles of confederation are approved with the excep- 
tions above taken in these instructions. 

April, 1778. . Test. Sol. Whitman, 

Town Clerk. 

A meeting of the inhabitants of the town was held on the 30th of August, 
1770, to take into consideration the unhappy circumstances of the British Colo- 
nies, etc., etc., and in particular the request of the Committee of Merchants desir- 
ing a meeting of the mercantile and landed interests of the several towns in this 
colony to be convened at New Haven on the 13th of September. 

Mr. Jonathan Eoot and Fisher Gay were chosen, and a long series of very 
spirited resolutions were passed, some of which were directed against the purchase 
of goods supposed to be imported in violation of the spirit of their agreement, 
and the encouragement of hawkers and peddlers who might introduce such goods 
without license. 

That these resolutions called forth much earnest discus- 
sion, and that the walls of this house resounded with exciting- 
appeals and noble demonstrations we cannot doubt. Fore- 



31 

most among those who acted and spoke was the Colonel Gay 
who had been so conspicuous in the construction of this 
edifice. At the first summons from the east he raised a com- 
pany at once, repaired to the scene, and afterwards became 
Colonel of a regiment of the Continental Army under Wash- 
ington. As the army was transferred to New York he stopped 
a night or two at home, and though indisposed, would not be 
moved by the appeals of his family to remain, but rejoined 
his regiment and soon died in the hospital near New York. 
That he was ardently patriotic and public-spirited, self-sacri- 
ficing and gallant, was attested by all who knew him. Alike 
ardent in counsel and foremost in every good work in this 
community, whether it concerned the School, the Church, or 
the State, he cheerfully risked his life for the rights of New 
England and the independence of the United Colonies. Nor was 
he alone. Three companies from Farmington were in action 
against Burgoyne, and it is confidently asserted by one whose 
recollections cannot be mistaken, that every young man from 
the town, worth any consideration, was at some time or other 
in the field. That some of these companies and detachments 
of men were assembled in this house before they were sent 
forth, and that all were paraded upon this green and com- 
mended to God in prayer, is certain. The fluent and eloquently 
fervid pastor of this church, Mr. Pitkin, was sent for to Sims- 
bury to preach the farewell sermon to the soldiers of a com- 
pany, raised just after the battle of Bunker Hill. Concern- 
ing this gathering we have the words of an eye witness : " At 
the hour appointed, we marched to the meeting house, where 
the officers appeared in military style, with their appropriate 
badges of distinction, and the soldiers in proper order, with 
their arms and accoutrements, as men prepared for battle. It 
was a full and overflowing audience, and all in high expecta- 
tion of hearing something new and charming from so gifted a 
preacher. Alter his warm and fervent prayer to heaven for 
the success and prosperity of the American armies, and the 
liberties and freedom of our country, he introduced his address, 
if I remember right, from these words : ' Play the man for 
your country, and for the cities of your God; and the Lord 
do that which seemeth him good.' 



32 

This sermon was well adapted to the occasion and spirit of 
the day. It was tender and pathetic — lively and animating. 
It was like martial music; while it touched the finer feelings, 
it roused and animated for the dreadful onset — the shout of 
war and the cry of victory ! During the time of its delivery, 
abundance of tears were seen to flow, from both old and 
young, male as well as female."* 

That similar scenes were transacted within and^ without 
this house none of us can doubt, who have been so'recently 
witnesses to their liiie in our recent conflict. Earnest prayer 
was offered on every Lord's day for the fathers and sons wlio 
were in the field, and at the interval between the services 
the latest news from all the places of contest was eagerly com- 
municated and heard. This village street was a part of the 
high road from Boston through Hartford to Philadelphia. 
Washington came by this route to meet Rochambeau at Weth- 
ersfield to arrange for the final expedition against Yorktown. 
Several thousand of the French troops were encamped for a 
night at least, about a mile below this place, and their arrange- 
ments for a bivouac are still to be seen. Tradition says that 
the Puritan misses did not disdain a dance by moonlight with 
the French officers. Some of Burgoyne's officers were quar- 
tered here after the surrender, and we are indebted to the skill 
of one of their number for two of our best houses. Several 
dwellings were patterned in different parts of the State after 
one of these houses. A part of the artillery taken at that 
memorable surrender was kept for a long time in the vil- 
lage, in what was formerly the orchard of John Mix. 

Farmington was a staunch Federalist town till the Feder- 
alist party was set aside. Two or three of the leading men 
only were Jeffersonians, but they had a slender following. 
That this was largely owing to tlie influences which issued 
from this old meeting house, would certainly have been con- 
ceded, or rather angrily contended by the anti-Federalists. 
Whatever religious advantages might have followed the 
division of the parish into two or three religious denomina- 

* See Barber's Historical Collections of Connecticut, (Simsbury). 



tions. it is morally certain that had any other house of 
worship been erected here, the town would have been divided 
into two political parties. As it was, John Mix, the town 
clerk, who wrote a bold clerkly hand, and Gen. George Cowles 
were regularly sent to the Legislature for more than a 
score of years. Hon. Timothy Pitkin was for several sessions 
a Federalist member of the United States Congress, and after 
his retirement from political life was of no doubtful political 
sympathies. His always lighted candle, as it gleamed from his 
office every night, testified to the passers-by of laborious histor- 
cal and political researches, all of which were made to contrib- 
uted to the renown of the party of Washington and Hamilton. 
To the Puritan meeting house the school house was always 
an indispensable adjunct and a near neighbor. Upon every 
village green the school house was built under the shadow of 
the house of God. The holy commonwealth of the Puritan 
could not discharge its duty to itself and its Redeeming King 
did it not provide by law and taxation for the instruction of 
the children of all its households. The Puritan town and the 
Puritan parish, as soon as either attained to organized life, pro- 
vided for the instruction of the children as well as for the main- 
tenance of worship, and enlisted the active co-operation of min- 
ister and magistrate. This old meeting house has witnessed a 
special and also an historic interest in this class of duties. 
Within six months after its dedication the parish was divided 
into separate school districts, and a petition was presented 
to the legislature to authorize each to tax itself to manage 
its own concerns. It was not till 1795 that the Legis- 
lature constituted special school societies throughout the state. 
In the year following, this newly formed school society digested 
a system of regulations for the visitation and discipline of the 
schools. In 1798 a bill with similar provisions was reported 
by John Treadwell of this town, afterwards Governor, and 
adopted for the entire state of Connecticut. This edifice 
deserves especial honor as the place in which the school sys- 
tem of Connecticut was first matured and adopted. 

The town of Farmington provided very early and very lib- 
erally for a special town fund for the support of public schools 
5 



34 

in all its societies, by the sale of lands reserved for highways. 
In this old meeting house also were held the annual school 
exhibitions, in which the highest classes from all the schools, 
each in turn, appeared on the stage to try its skill in reading, 
spelling and defining before the assembled community. The 
late Professor Olmsted records his remembrance of one of 
these exhibitions which must have taken place before 1809.* 
The one which I remember must have been held before 1817. 
It was fixed in my memory by the circumstance that the first 
class from the school on the Plains could not be accommo- 
dated on the narrow stage that was stretched in front of the 
pulpit from gallery to gallery, but a large number stood in the 
aisles below at each end. In February, 1793, it was voted 
that John Treadwell, John Mix, Timothy Pitkin, Jr., and Seth 
Lee be a committee to devise a plan for the formation of a 
new school in the society to give instruction in some of 
the higher branches of science not usually taught in com- 
mon schools and report. There is no record that any report 
was ever made. It is probable that the fierce ecclesiastical 
strife which had begun to agitate the community, preoccupied 
the attention of the public. f 

In the year 1816 the academy building was erected by an 
association of gentlemen who contributed a thousand dollars, 
to which the society added some six or seven liundred ; 
thereby securing to itself the use of a convenient lecture room 
and to the community apartments for a higher school. 
Such a school was maintained with great success for some 
twenty y^'ars, and was of great service to this and other 
towns. To this movement may be directly traced all that 
has been subsequently done for special education in this vil- 
lage. 

Of this academy the most distinguished principal was Dea- 
con Simeon Hart, who not only devoted himself with singular 
painstaking and probity to the education of the youth com- 
mitted to his care, but was in all his years of residence in 
this town a public-spirited citizen, and an ardent servant of 

* See Half Centur}' Discourse, by Noah Porter. Appendix, p. 45. 
t Seejpage 51. 



35 

Christ and his church. No man loved this old meeting-house 
better than he, or delighted in whatever might contribute to 
the spirituality and attractiveness of its worship, or the suc- 
cess of the gospel. His pride in the historic memories of this 
edifice and this town prompted to very laborious services in 
preserving these memories from neglect and oblivion. 

The relations between the meeting-house and the academy 
were so intimate tbat when it became desirable to accommo- 
date the large audiences which were attracted by the annual 
public exhibitions, the meeting-house was opened, and dramas 
were more than once enacted in this old Puritan edifice with 
drop curtains and green room. Many hundreds of pupils 
from places near and remote have habitually worshiped in 
this sanctuary and have learned to remember it most vividly. 
Not a few have been attracted by its teachings and worship, 
to a liighei- and better life on earth and in that kingdom 
wliich Christ has opened to all believers. 

The Old Red College, as it was called, should not be for- 
gotten, as its inmates at one time made themselves very con- 
spicuous in this meeting-house and in the community. It 
stood on the ground now occupied by the Female Seminary, 
and was originally the residence of Col. Noadiah Hooker. 
His pure and noble-minded son Edward Hooker used it for 
lodgings for a number of students from the Southern and 
South-Westem States, whom for several years he prepared for 
college and for public or professional life. 

In the palmy days of the village these well-dressed and 
sliowy young men, ten to fifteen in number, for several years 
made themselves conspicuous at all times and especially on 
Sundays, when with iron-shod boot-heels they tramped to the 
highest pew in the gallery and made themselves the observed 
of all observers. 

The meeting-house certainly befriended the public libraries 
which this village has for a long time most successfully sus- 
tained. One of these for a long time satisfied the literary 
wants of the North end of the village, but was subsequently 
absorbed into what was called the Phoenix Library, which has 
existed since early in the present century. I think there was 



36 

also a Mechanics Libraiy in the village, and still another library 
on the Great Plain. One of these libraries, probably the oldest, 
originated in a horse-shed with a few boys, as I am informed, 
wlio organized a plan of joint ownership and exchange for the 
very few juvenile books which came within their reach. It 
became a very flourishing institution, and was for many years 
sustained by a large number of proprietors. They met for 
many years on the first Sunday evening of every month at the 
house of Deacon Elijah Porter.* This library meeting was 
the village Lyceum at which its educated and professional 
men and the more intelligent citizens would freely compare 
their views in respect to the affairs of the village and the 
nation, to which thoughtful and curious boys listened with 
unnoticed attention. After this free interchange of opinion, 
which went on while the books were received which had been 
taken at the previous meeting, at the appointed hour the 
drawing began, which was now and then interrupted by an 
active bidding for any book which was especially desired. 

The old library still survives in the hands of a very few of 
the original proprietors. It is an instructive memorial of the 
past as well as a valuable collection of standard books. f It 
is to be hoped that it may never be dispersed but may become 
the property of the town. It would not be honorable to the 
town or the village at a time when so many towns in New Eng- 
land are collecting and supporting public libraries if these books 

* On the records of the Farmington Library Company, there appears on page 
1, a "Catalogue of the Library begun in 1785." On the 1st of January, 1801, 
without any*pparent change in the organization, it began to be called the 
Monthly Library. From 1796 to 1813 Elijah Porter was the librarian. During 
the year 1813 the office was filled by Luther Seymour, after which the library was 
dissolved, and on the 12th of February, 1814, the Phoenix Library was formed by 
a selection of the more valuable books from the old library. Elijah Porter was 
again appointed librarian and retained the office until March 17, 1826, when the 
Village Library, of which Capt. Selah Porter had been librarian since January, 
1817, was united with the PhcBuix and both remained under the care of Capt. 
Porter until he resigned April 4th, 1835, and Simeon Hart, Jr., was appointed 
in his place. It appears by the record that "The Farmington Library Company 
was formed Feb. 18, 1839, designed to supersede the Phoenix Library Company, 
which proved defective in its organization and was accordingly dissolved." 

t See the Report of the Secretary of the State Board of Education, A. D. 1868, 
page 94. 



87 

should be sold for a pittance, and its standard histories and 
solid treatises should be distributed no one knows whither. At 
the time when it was most generally used there were no daily 
newspapers in Connecticut. No religious newspapers were 
in existence. A monthly magazine brouglit scanty news of 
the movements of the Kingdom of Christ. The mail came 
from Hartford and all the world besides but once a week in a 
coach drawn by two horses.* 

Tlie meeting-house also educated the people through the 
Westminster Catechism, which was recited every Saturday 
morning in all the public schools — due allowance being made 
to the few who preferred another manual. Once in the winter 
the minister regularly catechised all the schools as the Pastor 
of the lambs of the flock, and inspected them in his ca- 
pacity as school-visitor. From 1810 to 1818 special catechet- 
ical exercises were maintained by the chui'ch for all the bap- 
tized children. 

In 1818 a Sunday school was established, and has ever since 
been prosecuted with great vigor and eminent success. Sub- 
sequently Sunday school libraries were introduced, and after- 
wards Sunday school newspapers and numerous other appli- 
ances, till the Sunday school has practically become one of 
the regular services of the Lord's Day. 

The meeting-house contributed to the education of the 
people most efficiently by its direct instrumentalities, by the 
Sabbath neatness, and order and decorum which it enforced, by 
the universal respite from secular occupations, and by the well- 
reasoned sermons which were pronounced from the pulpit to 

* It was not till the year 1823 or 4 that a line of four horse stage coaches was 
established from New Haven to Northampton, which ran through the town three 
times a week each direction, and afterward every day. Another similar line to 
Litchfield also was established about the same time. The former was a torerunner 
of the Farmington Canal which was commenced in 1S25, completed to the State 
Line in 1828, and subsequently finished to Northampton in 1834. In 1848 this canal 
was abandoned and the Canal Railroad was completed to PlainviUe, to Colhns- 
ville in 1849 and to Northampton in 1858. The relations of the canal to the 
old meeting-house ought not to be entirely overlooked. In the earlier years of its 
existence it did good service by bringing to church, in a boat, made convenient 
for the purpose, a large freight of passengers from PlainviUe who beguiled the 
voyage by singing and other religious services. 



38 

hundreds of thoughtful listeners. The arguments of these ser- 
mons concerned the immortal interests of men — their appeals 
waked up the most stirring emotions. Many of their hearers 
during the following week pondered on what they heard, and 
esteemed tlie words of the preacher more than their necessary 
food. For more than one generation while this edifice has stood, 
the Sunday sermons took the place which is now largely 
usurped by books, and newspapers and social intercourse. 
The truths which were discussed in this pulpit, the principles 
which were enforced, the quickening seed-thoughts which were 
uttered, the kindling and elevating pictures which were por- 
trayed, and the eloquent expostulations which were sent home 
to the heart, furnished of themselves an education the value 
and efficiency of which cannot easily be over-estimated. If 
theology is the haven and Sabbath of all man's contempla- 
tions, then a theology earnestly and plainly preached is of 
itself an efficient instrument of culture.* 

The New England pulpit has usually been an instructive 
pulpit. The New England ministry has not usually failed in 
definite opinions, or feared to utter them. The New England 
meeting-house has been the sanctuary of the freest and bold- 
est discussion of all thu truths which bear upon man's salva- 
tion in the life to come, or his duties in the life that now is. 
The boldness and independence of this ministry have been its 
strength. It has neither sought to soften the truth nor to con- 
ceal it, but by manifestation of the truth has commended itself 
to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 

This leads me to notice what this old meeting-house has 

* It is not easy for the present generation to conceive it possible that the interest 
in theology should be so absorbing among many of the leading men of a commu- 
nity as we know it was till a comparatively recent period in many of the New 
England parishes. Certainly it was so during two-thirds or three-fourths of the 
century while this meeting-house has been standing. 

The rigidly orthodox Governor Treadwell could not receive without an elabo- 
rate metaphysical protest the new-light notions of the distinguished theologian of 
the parish of New Britain, but held an earnest controversy with him in the Con- 
necticut Evangelical Magazine. One of the early remembrances of my life is of 
a visit to the Pastor from Deacon Bull who had been endeavoring to digest the 
newly-published, and as he thought, the new-fangled theology of Dr. Dwight, in a 
borrowed volume which he brought home with his queries and exceptions. 



39 

contributed and what it has witnessed in the way of forming 
and reforming the public morals. If the Puritan minister 
was at times over definite and confident in laying down the 
doctrines of the gospel in all the ramifications of a metaphys- 
ical system, he certainly did not shrink from expressing his 
mind in regard to the duties which the gospel enforced, nor 
in applying its rules to the lives of his own flock. There 
certainly has been no deficiency in this meeting-house in this 
regard. If the merchants and capitalists of Farmington were 
ever lax in inserting certain descriptions of property in their 
tax lists, it was not for the lack of faithful admonition from 
the Pastor. If the youth were tempted to excessive laxity in 
amusements they heard a timely word.* 

Wlien the attention of the churches of New England was 
called to the ravages of intemperance, this church responded 
with zeal to the summons. When the first and second 
and third temperance movements were made, viz : — abstinence 
from distilled liquors, from everything which can intoxi- 
cate, and the Washingtonian reform ; this meeting-house heard 
many a sermon from the pastor on the Sabbath, and many an 
address, and a discussion from the pastor and others on week 
days in respect to the teacliings of the scriptures and the 
legitimate deductions from them. This meeting-house was 
efficient in driving out the numerous distilleries which once 
filled the parish and the town, as well as in making the indis- 
criminate sale of liquors to be disreputable. Whatever any 
man may think of some extremes in principle and temper 
which may have been exhibited in this movement, no one can 
doubt that the movement itself has done much to redeem 
the community from a blighting curse. 



*0n the days of the Annual Fast the political sins of the commonwealth and 
of the nation, especially after both had fallen oif to Jeifersonian principles, were 
duly set forth in many pulpits ; not very offensively in this. One Congregational 
minister in Connecticut — the eccentric but shrewd Dr. Backus — the minister in 
Bethlehem, subsequently President of Hamilton College, was betrayed into such 
bold utterances concerning President Jefferson, as to be prosecuted for libel and 
committed by the United States marshal to the jail at Hartford for the lack of the 
bail which he refused. Being somewhat eccentric in his humor and being pro- 
vided with a swifter horse than his guardian, he amused himself on his way from 
Litchfield to Hartford in occasionally leaving the marshal a few miles behind. 



40 

The Anti-Masonic movement agitated the community some- 
what painfully, although the glories of the Farmington Ma- 
sonic Lodge had begun to decline when the excitement against 
masonry commenced. The meeting-house and the church wit- 
nessed somewhat earnestly against this association, although 
a few years before, the meeting-house was filled with a crowd 
at a magnificent celebration of St. John's Day by a masonic 
procession which took possession of its seats and its pulpit, 
and symbols mysterious to the boys were paraded before unini- 
tiated eyes and the Rev. Menzies Rayner delivered a discourse 
from Gen. xrii., 8. 

The Anti-Slavery movement was taken up at an early period 
and prosecuted with great earnestness.* This and Anti-Ma- 
sonry occasioned decided differences of opinion in respect to 
the interpretation of the Scriptures and the proper attitude 
which should be assumed by the church toward masonry and 
slave holding. These differences were attended by many un- 
comfortable results and not a little excited feeling. Whatever 
any one might then think, or may now think of the utterances 
of the pastor in respect to either movement, no one could doubt 
that he endeavored to find the truth with an honest and ear- 
nest love of the truth, and that when he formed an opinion 
he did not hesitate to utter it with boldness on the one hand, 
and on the other with a liberal and charitable love for those 
who were not content with his moderation. In these re- 
forming efforts the old meeting-house has heard some utter- 
ances from tiie pulpit and the pews which had been more 
wisely suppressed. But the free spirit of the fathers taught 
their sons to prove all things, and hold fast that which is good. 
Those of the hearers whose patience has been tried and whose 
spirits have been stirred by the too much, or the too little 
which has been set forth in the name of God, have generally 

*It deserves to be remembered also in the annals of this house that after these 
agitations had begun to subside, some forty Africans who had been set free by 
the authority of the nation, were regularly present in it for months, as an earnest 
of the great deliverance which was to follow a quarter of a century afterward. 
When these Africans became residents of this town, and eveiy Lord's Day ap- 
peared in this house of Christian worship, their presence was felt to hallow this 
place, and gave emphasis to the oft repeated prayer, " Thy Kingdom come." 



41 ' 

bethought themselves that a free pulpit, and a bold pulpit 
bring more of good than of evil to a community, and that 
some of the most important lessons which the gospel teaches 
are those of tolerance and charity when party feeling runs 
high and good men are tempted to suspect and denounce one 
an°other. The old meeting-house has outlived so many pass- 
ing excitements even in this unexcitable community as to be 
^We if it would, to emblazon on each panel of its extended 
walls some wholesome lesson concerning the folly of hot- 
headed wrath in the name of Christ, and the sublime wisdom 
of quietly resting in the truth that is or may be revealed. 
The sum of the gathered wisdom of its century of observation 
upon these discussions and differences of opinion in regard to 
Christian and political ethics is the apostolic direction, " Let 
us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded, and if in 
anything ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this 

unto you." 

One class of difficult duties this pulpit has faithfully 

inculcated, for the exercise of which this meeting-house 

has been a successful school of practice. I speak of the duties 

of Christian beiievolence :it home and in foreign countries. It 

is not easy to conceive what were the conceptions and habits 

of this community sixty years ago in respect to this class of 

duties. But we must do this in order to appreciate what 

changes this meeting-house has witnessed. At that time the 

community was more wealthy than it is at present, but the 

yearly salary of its minister was five hundred dollars in 

money, the use of the parsonage, and twenty-five cords of 

wood ;' the whole being the equivalent of say twelve hundred 

dollars at the present time. Once a year by authority of the 

Governor of the state, a contribution was called for in behalf 

of the Domestic Missionary Society of Connecticut. There 

existed also a Female Cent Society somewhat later to whicb 

each subscriber paid a cent a week or fifty cents a year. At 

the anniversary of this association each contributor sent or 

' -paid in her subscription, enclosed in a paper parcel with 

her name written within. The contribution of now 

and then a dollar would betoken some special elevation 

6 



42 

of the grace of liberality in the heart of some devout mother 
in Israel. 

The American Board for Foreign Missions and the Connec- 
ticut Missionary Society for the new settlements gleaned up 
scanty collections, and the Connecticut Bible Society paid its 
occasional members in illegible Bibles at a reduced price. 

It was not an easy thing in times like those for the pastor 
of such a congregation as this to stand up before the assem- 
bled hundreds whom lie had known from boyhood and urge 
the duty of greater benevolence, and to do this persistently 
in the name of his master, who though he was rich, yet for 
our sakes became poor. But he did it perseveringly amid cold, 
incredulous, and scowling looks, and the reward of his fidel- 
ity was great. The old meeting-house has been, in an emi- 
nent sense, the treasury house of the Lord, and many who have 
waxed liberal under its influences have been greatly enriched 
of the Master. This meeting-house has also trained the peo- 
ple to good manners. The youth stood up before their elders. 
Mr. Pitkin, while he continued the pastor and long afterward, 
walked with dignity up the center aisle in flowing cloak and 
venerable wig, with his three-cornered hat in hand, bowing to 
the people on either side. 

Tliis meeting house has also enforced respect for age and 
position by the traditional custom of seating the people. 

On finishing the old meeting house, that is, the second, the 
society appointed four men as a Seating Committee who were 
" to do it by their best discretion." A year after when the 
report came in, it was voted that the society " do regret what 
was done by the last Committee in seating of the meeting 
house," also that the new committee " shall have respect to 
age, office and estate, so far as it tendeth to make a man re- 
spectable and to everything else which hath the same 
tendency." The committee were requested " not to divulge 
their report until it is made public to the society, when the 
society shall accept or reject it," 

This rule of seating was re-enacted in 1783-4, and occasion-' 
ally afterward. In 17i3, February, a large committee was 
appointed to dignify the meeting house, that is, to designate and 



43 

arrange the seats according to their relations of dignity, and 
to report. Their report was received at a subsequent meet- 
ing and a seating committee was immediately appointed ; so 
difficult was it to adjust this difficult matter. The society 
persevered in thus seating the church as long as it defrayed 
its current expenses by taxation. The last seating took 
place in 1842. In December, 1844, the society voted to rent 
the pews. In 1805 Lieut. Gov, Treadwell with his lady was 
invited to sit in the minister's pew during the pleasure of tlie 
society, and there he sat till his death. In 1821 Solomon 
Langdon, the distinguished benefactor of the society, was in- 
vited to take his seat in the same pew. The seating of the 
meeting-house according to age and position was a significant 
practice in the olden time, for by it that respect to the aged 
and the honorable, which is inwardly felt in every community 
not wholly barbarous or wholly rotten, was formally and out- 
wardly expressed by a place in the meeting-house, and sanc- 
tioned every Lord's Day in the presence of God. Those times 
were at least stable when society was held together by bonds 
like these, for though occasional envy and disparagement 
might be cherished in secret they could not overthrow an ar- 
rangement which commended itself to the judgment of the 
solid men of the community and was conformed to the tradi- 
tions of their childhood. When the minister or stranger entered 
the school house, its busy inmates rose at once to their feet. 
As cither approached the school house by the way-side the 
school children ceased from their sports and arranged them- 
selves in ranks to give a pleasant greeting to the passer by — 
a greeting which blessed those who gave more than those who 
received it. These customs of deference and honor, of 
courtesy and respect, did much to soften the rugged aspects 
of Puritan life. They lifted up its stern and uncompromis- 
ing democracy into the dignity of an organized society. Tliey 
restrained the unblushing impudence of untamed boyhood 
and disciplined all classes to respect for the laws and to 
obedience to God. The family, the school, the meeting-house, 
society itself were nurseries of order and decorum. We can- 
not revive these decorous customs if we would. We would 



44 

not if we could, but we cannot but greet them as they pass in 
review before our memory with the words : 

" Hail ancient manners ! Sure defence 
When they survive of wholesome laws." 

There are some who do not share this feeling, but would ridi- 
cule the pedantic stiffness and tenacious aristocracies of Puri- 
tan society. Others would denounce them most emphatically 
as unchristian and unseemly in the house of God. But the 
fashionable church of modern times with its guarded pew has 
little to boast of improvement in its new way of seatioig the 
meeting-house, flaunting as it does the wealth which ofteii 
does not make a man respectable by ticketing on his pew the 
price which he pays for liis sittings. 

There was one grievous exception to the general decorum 
which was enforced by the old meeting-house, and that was 
the behavior of the youth and children in the galleries. It 
was one of the inconsistencies of the Puritan's theory with his 
practice, that in theory he included the children and youth 
within the blessings of the covenant with the family and the 
church, and in practice cast them out of the family circle in 
the house of God at the most critical and exposed period of 
their lives. This practice is akin to its singular straining of 
the evidences of the beginning of the Christian life which 
practically prevented so many from taking upon them the 
vows of the Christian profession till a later period, and led 
many to do this even then in a superficial way, who should 
have been encouraged to appropriate all the blessings promised 
to the believer. The old gallery of the Puritan meeting-house 
has too often been little better than a veritable Court of the 
Geiitiles into which the children were banished, there to be 
systematically trained by the arrangements for their accom- 
modation to regard themselves as mere lookers on in the sanc- 
tuary. The gallery was the perpetual cross to the young 
minister and the old ; to the grave elders below, and to the 
perplexed tithing man who could ill conceal the vexation, to 
betray which would but weaken his authority.* It is not easy 



* These oeeasional outbreaks among the youth in the galleries are in part to be 
ascribed to the rude and vigorous life and the exuberance of animal spirits which 



46 

to explain the introduction of this practice of separating the 
youth from their families and sending them into this outlying 
wilderness. In the older countries, both in Germany and 
England, the galleries are largely the preferred seats. Dis- 
tinguished personages very frequently have their pews aloft. 
But the first Puritan meeting-iiouses were rude and inconven- 
ient, and the Puritan's knowledge of architecture did not 
enable him to make the galleries accessible or attractive. 
The aged, who were pre-eminently the honorable with the 
Puritan, would naturally not desire to ascend a difficult stair- 
way. We find within the historic pei'iod that the gallery of the 
Puritan meeting-house was usually filled with the least reverent 
hearers and was oftentimes a place of open trifling. In this 
town so early as 1714 the deacons were requested " to appoint 
or persuade some persons who by the seating shall sit conven- 
ient to inspect the youth in the meeting-house on days of pub- 
lic worship and endeavor to keep them in order." Again in 
1716-7 the society made choice of Thomas North, son of Sam- 
uel, to inspect and keep the youth in order in the lower part 
of the meeting-house, and riamuel Orvis and Simeon Newel 
for the same service in the galleries. In December, 1772, the 
first month after this edifice was occupied it was voted that 
the center pew in the front gallery shall belong to the men, 
and the following stern resolve was adopted, " whereas it is 
suggested l)y many members of this society that indecencies 
are practiced by the young people upon the Sabbath in time 
of public worship by frequently passing and repassing by one 

belonged to the hardy sons and daughters of other generations. Beneath all the 
decorum and stiffness which were imijosed by artificial manners and religious aus- 
terity there was no little rudeness in the outbreaks of youth when they fell short 
of criminal excess. An earnest defender and yet a discerning critic of Puritan 
life says very acutely, " When our fathers tried to make the youth of a whole 
community as grave as church members and moreover by law, it was a similar 
mistake. Hence we find the reaction, the outbi'eaking of violent pleasure the 
more sure as the more forbidden. I have heard old men tell amidst the coercive 
austerity of the day of wash-tubs set on chimnies, frogs dropped on ashes, cart 
wheels taken off, walls built across public roads, and all the freaks of rustic mis- 
chief, the Jlash and outbreak of a Jierjj mind in youth, when age is, or is thought 
to be, too severe." The f'uritan: By John Oldbuy, Esq. [Rev. Leonard Worth- 
ington, D. D.] No. 23, Boston, 1836. 



46 

another in the galleries, and intermingling sexes to the great 
disturbance of many serious and well minded people — Re- 
solved and Voted, that each and every of us that are heads 
of families will use our utmost endeavor to suppress the afore- 
said evils and will strictly enjoin it upon all persons under 
our care to behave decently on the Sabbath or Lord's Day, 
and that the dilTerent sexes for time to come neglect to pass 
up and down the gallery stairs other than those that lead to 
that part of the gallery assigned for different sexes, as they 
will avoid the displeasure of this society, and be accounted 
disturbers of the peace of said society and liable to be pro- 
ceeded against as such." In 1813 it was voted " tliat the prac- 
tice of certain young gentlemen in seating themselves in the 
pews on the female side of the gallery in times of public wor- 
ship is disorderly, and ought to be, and is, by this society, 
wholly disapproved of." In 1821, the matter of the galleries 
was taken thoroughly in hand and a committee was appointed 
for the purpose " of securing better accommodations and bet- 
ter order in the house of God." As a consequence, import- 
ant alterations and extensive repairs were made. The re- 
mote pews against the walls, which in some churches have 
often been no better than the devil's playhouses and hiding- 
places, were removed. Families were henceforth seated in 
the galleries ; room was thus made for the youth with their 
parents above and below. Special seats were also assigned 
to tliosc who were older. In consequence, ordei' and decorum 
were thereafter effectually secured. This was a most impor- 
tant improvement which doubtless grew out of the great 
change in the religious feelings of the community which oc- 
curred in 1821, and signified that new relations had been 
established between the children and youth of the congrega- 
tion, and the pastor and elder members. That so great an 
innovation should have been introduced at so early a period 
in this large community is most honorable to the enterprise 
of the pastor and the energy and moral force of the congre- 
gation. 

Much attention has been given to sacred miisic especially 
since this meeting-house has stood. At times the singing has 



47 

been of marked and acknowledged excellence. Many of the 
leading men in the community delighted in music, and were 
no mean proficients in directing it. T have heard from a 
gentleman who was well informed on the subject that the 
choirs of Farmington and Wethersfield were greatly distin- 
guished and maintained an active rivalry at times for pre- 
eminence. 

But. the singing at public worship has not always min- 
istered to the harmony of the congregation. Here, as 
elsewhere, the efforts to effect a concord of sweet sounds 
have resulted in fierce discord between sensitive tempers. 
Music has been the subject of frequent discussion, and has 
been a fruitful occasion for temporary troubles. In March, 
1726-7, was passed the following minute : " This meeting 
taking into consideration the unhappy controversy that hath 
been among us respecting singing of Psalms in our public 
assemblies upon the Sabbath, and forasmuch as the churcb in 
this place hath several times in their meetings manifested 
their dislike of singing psalms according to the method not 
long since endeavored to be introduced among us being the 
same way of singing of psalms which is recommended by the 
reverend ministers of Boston, with other ministers to the 
number in all of twenty or thereabouts ; therefore that the 
controversy may be ended, and peace gained for this society, 
this meeting by their major vote do declare tlieir full satisfac- 
tion with the former way of singing of psalms in this society 
and do earnestly desire to continue therein, and do with the 
church manifest their dislike of singing according to the said 
method endeavored to be introduced aforesaid."* In 1757, 

*How unhappy these controversies were will be apparent from the following : 
" To the Honourable y" General Assembly at hartford y° 18th of May 1725. the 
memorial of Joseph Hawlcy one of y* house of Representatives humbly shcweth 
your Memorialist his father and Grandffither & y" whole Church & people of 
farmingtown have used to worship God by singing psalms to his praise In y ' mode 
called y° Old way. however t'other Day Jonathan Smith & one Stanly Got a 
book & pretended to sing more regularly &. so made Great disturbance In y' wor- 
ship of God for y" people could not follow y' mode of singing, at Length t'was 
moved to y* church whither to admit y" new way or no, who agreed to suspend it 
at least for a year, yet Deacon hart y" Chorister one Sabbath day In setting y" 
psalm attempted to sing Bella tune — and yo"" memorialist being used to y" old 
way as aforesd did not know helhtm tune from pax tune, and supposed y° deacon 



48 

the society voted and agreed that they would nitroduce Mr. 
Watts' Version of the Psahns to be sung on the Sabbath and 
other solemn meetings in the room of the version that hath 
been used in time past. At the same meeting Elijah Cowles 
was requested to tune the Psalm, and that he shall sit in the 
fifth pew. In 1762 Mr. Fisher Gay was chosen to assist 
Elijah Cowles in setting the psalm, and he should sit in the 
ninth pew on the north side the alley, and Stephen Dorchester 
was chosen to assist the choristers in reading the psalm. In 
April, 1773, the spring after this house was first occupied a 
choir was allowed by the following vote. "Voted that the 

had aimed at Cambridge short tune, and set it wrong, whereupon y'' petitioner 
Raised his Voice in y^ s"^ short tune & y** people followed him, except y° s"^ Smith 
& Stanly, & y" few who Sang allowed In bella tune ; & so there was an unhappy 
Discord in y'= Singing, as there has often bin since y" new singers set up, and y^ 
Blame was all Imputed to yo'' poor petition [er] , and Jn" Hooker, Esq' assistant, 
sent for liim, & fined him y*^ 19th of fcb'>' Last for breach of Sabbath, and so yo"" 
poor petition'' is Layed under a very heavie Scandal & Uepro^ch & Rendered vile 
& prophane for what ho did in y"' fear of God, & in y'= mode he had bin well edu- 
cated in and was then y" setled manner of Singing by y' agi-cem' of y' Church. 

Now yo' Petition'' thinks y^ Judgement is erroneous, first, because y" fact if as 
wicked as m' hooker supposed Comes under y' head of disturbing God's woi-ship, 
& not y" statute of prophaning y° Sabbath : secondly, because no member of a 
Lawfull Church Society can be punished for worshiping God In y" modes & 
forms, agreed upon, & fixed by y« Society, thirdly because tis errors, when y' 
Civill authority sodenly Interpose between partyes y* differ about modes of wor- 
ship, & force one party to Submitt to y' other, till all milder methods have bin 
used to Convince mens' Consciences, fourthly because tis error to make a Gent 
of yo' petition' Carract'^r a Scandalous offender upon Record, for nothing but a 
present mistake at most, when no morrai evil is Intended. 

Wherefore yo' poor petitioner pi-ayes you to set aside y" s"* Jud, or by what 
means yo' hon'^ please, to save yo' poor petition' from y' Imputation of y" hein- 
ous Crime Laid to him, & yo' poor petition' as In duty &c. shall ever pray. 

JOSEPH HAWLY 

This Assembly Grants the Prayer of the within Petition. 
Past in the Lower House. 

Test, Tho. Kemberly, Clerk 

Re-considered. Dissented to in the Upp" House. 

Test, Hez. Wyllys, Sect'y. 

Capt. Timi' Pierce, Messrs. Whittlesey & D. Buell, are appointed a Com*"' 
from the Lower House to confer with such Gent as t!ie Upper house shall appoint 
upon the differences of the houses on the above Petition, and make report to 
this assembly. 

Test, Tho. Kembekly, Clerk 



49 

people who have learned the rule of singing, have liberty to 
sit near together in the same position as they sat this day at 
their singing meeting and they have liberty to assist in cari-y- 
ing on that part of divine worsliip." What this " position" 
was will occur at once to those " old inhabitants" who remember 
the long line of singers around the front of the gallery which 
was marshaled and controlled by the chorister opposite the 
pulpit, assisted by a few leading singers. At times this line 
would be greatly abbreviated and demoralized. Again after 
a fresh impulse given by " a singing school," its well-filled 
ranks would stretch all along the front, composed of "young 
men and maidens, old men and children." 

Mr. Martin Bull was appointed to lead, and John Tread well 
and Asahel Wadsworth to assist as there should be occasion. 
But alas ! very soon, in December, 1774, a large committee was 
required to compromise " the difference among the singers. ' 
At the same time it was voted to sing at the close of the 
second service in the winter as well as in the summer. In 
1793 six dollars were appropriated to purchase several copies 
of Barlow's Version of theTsalms of David, and distribute 
them among the singers, having regard to the most deserving. 
In 1795 the society's committee are directed to have an accom- 
plished master to instruct in psalmody. In 1803 eight chor- 
isters were appointed, Luther Seymour at the head. In 1811 
a large permanent committee was appointed to regulate the 
singing in every particular. In 1818 the Handel Society 
was organized, under the leadership of the eminent Dr. Eli 
Todd, and was invited by the society to conduct the service 
ol song, which it did with great acceptance.* Dr. Todd did 
not sing himself but led the choir by his violin, the use of 
which was then a novelty in a Puritan meeting house. 

* This society was very numerous, and the memV)ers occupied all the seats in 
front of the pulpit; Dr. Todd having drawn the long and straggling line into a 
compact mass in the center of which he stood, animating and swaying all by his 
eye and his instrument. Dr. Todd was rc])orted to be an infidel at that time and 
had rarely attended church although he was the beloved and trusted friend of the 
]>astor. It was a matter of great rc^joicing in this sensitive community when he 
pledged himself to conduct the singing, and the zeal for the Handel Society was 
in part inspired by the interest felt in this eminent and greatly beloved physician. 

7 



50 

The violoncello was introduced about this time with the 
flute, the clarionet and l)assoon. In 1822 the Handel Society 
gave notice that it would no longer sustain the singing, when 
four choristers were appointed, Horace Cowles at the head. In 
1825 liberty was given to the choir to choose its own leader 
during the pleasure of the society. In this way came into 
being what was known as the Associated Choir, the existence 
of which is manifest on the records of the society in 1841. 
This society received liberal appropriations for several years, 
but some differences having arisen which could not be adjusted, 
its services as an association were dispensed with by vote of 
the society in 1846. Unhappy controversies having followed 
this event, the society in 1851 passed some conciliatory reso- 
lutions expressive of their high estimate of the value of the 
service of this body, inviting its members to unite with 
the existing choir. In 1852 resolutions of a more positive 
and earnest character for conciliation and adjustment indicate 
a serious disturbance of feeling among the singers in the so- 
ciety. In 1801 an organ was purchased, by voluntary sub- 
scription from the ladies and an appropriation from the society. 

But excitements about singing, or other subjects, have not 
been able to weaken the stability, or disturb the unity of this 
parish. The old meeting-house is a fitting symbol of the gen- 
erally enduring compactness of this ecclesiastical society. For 
a century it has stood unmoved against the blast of many a 
fierce northwester, neither shaken from without, nor rent 
within. In how many bright moonlight nights has it steadied 
itself against the threatened wrath of the invading foe. How 
often has it been shaken in its every timber by the rushing 
winds, when fair weather has come out of the north with 
terrible majesty. Often have the spirits of the air made in- 
fernal music in its mazy attic, and howled in fiendish merri- 
ment over its impending fall ; but it has not fallen. So has 
the parish stood amid all the heavings and rockings from 
without and within. Its stability and peace have been usually 
the envy of its neighbors, and an example to all lookers-on. 
There are meeting-houses in Connecticut which liave been 
little better than houses of contention and wrath ; in which 



51 

Christ has literally been preached of strife and vain-glory, 
and the hearers have literally experienced to the full the 
warning, " but if ye bite and devour one another, take heed 
lest ye be consumed one of another." There are so-called 
houses of worship whicli one shudders to look at or think of, 
so completely have they been made the devil's houses for bit- 
terness and party feeling, instead of being the dwellings of 
Christian peace and love — churches which one or two bad 
men, or one or two wrong-headed or stiff-headed good men 
have continued to keep in a turmoil which has made its Sun- 
day worship a feast of bitterness, its preaching a series of 
personal denunciations, and its prayers ebullitions of wrath 
against man, rather than offerings of love and humility before 
God. The good sense and Christian feeling which have ruled 
in this community have delivered this meeting-house from 
such shocking desecration, and have secured to the parisli the 
steady fruits of temperate wisdom. Above all the spirit of God 
has been present more than once by timely interposition to 
bring peace to this house. Not long after this house was 
erected, after the close of the Revolutionary struggle, the 
parish was rent by a protracted strife with and about Rev. 
Allen Olcott, who was the minister from 1787 to 1791.* Four 
years afterward the divisions were still more threatening, for 
they were aggravated by a sharp and positive hostility on the 
part of many influential men against the new light or Hop- 
kinsian preaching. Mr. Edward Dorr Griffin, afterward so dis- 
tinguished and so well known, preached as a candidate in the 
fervor of his youth, with the glow of his soaring imagination, 
and the brilliancy of his imposing rhetoric. His preaching 
was attractive and powerful ; and it made a strong impression 
on the young and the old. Many were awakened to new con- 
victions and began, as they thought, a new life. Many were 
vexed and disturbed and conceived a determined hostility to 
the fearless and defiant preacher. The old strifes were re- 
awakened and became more bitter than ever. A decided ma- 
jority gave Mr. Griffin a call ; but a large minority opposed him 
— 73 to 24. He accepted the call after a delay of nearly five 

* See Porter's Historical Discourse, pp. 78-9. 



62 

months. A council was convened which declined to install 
him against so strong an opposition, but advised the calling of 
another council, to which the society consented by a small 
majority — the vote standing 62 to 41. Meanwhile some re- 
ports were circulated unfavorable to the character of Mr. 
Griffin, and his opponents made use of them before the coun- 
cil. When this body convened, the house was packed as never 
before or since witli an excited auditory. The spokesman for 
his opponents was arrayed in full professional attire and made 
showy denunciations against Mr. Griffin's reputation. The 
council acquitted the candidate of the charges, but advised 
that he should withdraw his letter of acceptance, wliich he 
did, and the storm was allayed. In a few months after, in the 
same year, Eev. Joseph Washburn came among this people a 
messenger of peace and of blessing — a man of quiet dignity 
and winning ways — who united all hearts, exorcised the spirit 
of bitterness and dissension, and brought peace to the parish. 
Soon after the present century opened, while unity and strength 
reigned within there were many fears from without. The old 
standing order which was supposed to be the necessary sup- 
port of the original parishes of the state was actively assailed. 
Many fears were cherished that if the new party should pre- 
vail the churches would be invaded or torn down. One of 
the leading Hartford newspapers in the interest of the Federal 
party frightened its confiding readers with a picture of the 
Toleration party just come to power and proceeding to tear 
down the churches and burn the bibles. The people of this 
parish were mostly Federalists ; but in case they should be 
released from the obligation to support some church by taxa- 
tion, none could foresee how many would refuse to be taxed. 
This release was secured in 1818 by the constitution of the 
state which was adopted that year. Previous to this event, 
while the storm was preparing from afar, Mr. Solomon Lang- 
don had given the society property to the value of $2,500, of 
which the income alone was to be used. In 1820, after the 
new constitution had been adopted, he offered JfiSOO more on 
condition that a fund amounting to $10,000 should be raised 
and properly invested. The conditions were complied with. 



53 

Subscriptions were made by all classes and almost every indi- 
vidual. Subsequently the fund was increased by $2,000 more. 
It was supposed when this was accomplished that the gospel 
was provided for forever in this parish, and the joy that was 
felt and expressed showed how earnestly the hearts of this 
great parish were interested for the future of this community. 
The necessity of increased expenditures has prevented this 
fund from being so great an evil as it might have been. The 
zeal with which it was raised in what was supposed to be a 
critical period is worthy of all honor. The agitations and 
fears and divisions which have occasionally sprung up have 
been chiefly uncomfortable because of the good which they 
hindered than because they have seriously threatened the per- 
manence or the unity of the parisli. 

But the religious life of the community is that which the 
meeting-house is designed to promote. The spiritual worship 
offered from one Lord's Day to another, the renewal of better 
aspirations, the renunciation of besetting sins and inveterate 
habits of evil, the strengthening of the faith, the brightening 
of the hopes, the maturing of the patience, the re-kindling of 
zeal, the training of the believer for a better life on earth and 
a more precious inheritance in heaven — these constitute the 
true glory of the house of prayer. We ask then with special 
interest what has the old meeting-house achieved and what 
has it seen, of results of this kind during the century in which 
it has resounded with public prayer and praise. Tlie answers 
to these questions have been given so fully in the published 
discourse* of the pastor who served you sixty years, that I 
need only refer to wliat you know so well. Some fifteen or 
sixteen hundred liave been added to the communion of the 
church. The largest number at any one time was 114 in 1821 
on a bright Sabbath in June. Of these there were represen- 
tatives from almost every house of those who had been 
moved to the before untried exercises of prayer and praise in 

* See Memorial of a Revival — A Sermon by Noah Porter, pastor of the Church 
in Farmington. Hartford, 1822: also Half Century Discourse ; on occasion of 
the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination as Pastor of the First Church in Farm- 
ington, Conn. Delivered November 12th, 1856, by Noah Porter, D. D. Hart- 
ford, 1857. 



54 

that wonderful revival of religion which came into this com- 
munity as a rushing mighty wind and caused its popula- 
tion to speak with new tongues of the wonderful works of 
God. Then was eminently fulfilled, " the Lord whom ye seek 
shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the 
covenant whom ye delight in/' Before and since, this house 
has often been hallowed with the presence of the Holy Spirit. 
Many men in their sturdy strength have learned to sit at the 
feet of Christ with docile spirits. Many old men have waked 
to new views of life. Many, very many children and youth 
have been gently led into the ways of blessed Christian aspira- 
tion. Here truth has been patiently explained and earnestly 
commended to hundreds who have found it confirmed in their 
own experience and much of it has sprung up and borne 
abundant fruit. There are many thousands scattered here 
and there over this broad land, and some in other lands who 
have been made better men and women and whose households 
are better and happier for the impressions received or con- 
firmed in this house. There are multitudes of perfected 
spirits now gathered to their rest above, who can remember 
seasons spent in this house which were the anticipated earnest 
of that which they now enjoy in the great assembly of the Re- 
deemer. Surely God has been in the place though we have 
not known it. Christ has often been here and the Holy Spirit 
has brooded over and within this house by his life-giving power. 
During all this century the Christian church has been 
learning new lessons of Christian truth and of the Christian 
life. It is no dishonor to the worthies of the past to believe 
this. It would be a fatal defect in the gospel and would argue 
that it was not from God were it not progressive. The tradi- 
tions of our fathers and the spirit of our Congregational 
polity enjoin upon us the duty of opening our minds and 
shaping our actions to every new revelation which is made 
concerning the word of God and the life of truth and obedi- 
ence. This meeting-house has seen great changes in the 
speculative and practical views of Christendom, and it has 
not only accepted many of these changes for the better, but 
it has rejoiced in them as relieving Christian truth from many 



56 

objections, and the Christian Hfe and character from unfortu- 
nate misconceptions and reasonable reproach. Your old pas- 
tor ill his Half Century Discourse confessed to have made 
important changes in his theoretical and practical views dur- 
ing his long ministerial life, and recorded his unfeigned 
regret at many of the imperfect and one-sided exhibitions 
which he had given of the gospel in the earlier part of his 
ministry,* Ho rejoiced that he had entered into more satisfy- 
ing and rational views of Christ and his salvation. But no man 
doubted that with each advance which he made, he made 
progress in spiritual knowledge and in Christian simplicity ; 
that he became more humble, more Christ-like, and more self- 
sacrificing the longer he lived ; that he was stronger and more 
clear in his faith and love, even though he was more playful, 
more humane, and more catholic till the last day when he 
ministered from this pulpit. The old meeting-house has been 
true to the duty of forgetting many things that are behind 
and reaching after those that are before. It has witnessed 
and has contributed to a progress of opinion in respect to 
Ciiristian theology and Christian living which would deserve 
thanks and congratulation this day did we but walk in the 
brighter and better light which has been gradually breaking 
upon the Christian church since the foundations of this edifice 
were laid. 

It has been a distinguished honor to this old meeting-house 
that it has so long l)een the sole place of Christian worship 
for an undivided parish. It has been a peculiar privilege of its 
ministers to be regarded as the pastors of all the souls within 
this community. While so many of the old New England par- 
ishes were divided and sub-divided into diverse denominations; 
when so often out of every local or neighborhood quarrel 

* Very instructive impressions of the practical views entertained of the nature 
and process of conversion and of the cardinal doctrines of the Gospel when this 
meeting-house was first erected m:iy be obtained by reading the account of the 
revival of religion in Farmington, in the year 1799, prepared by Rev. Joseph 
Washburn, and published in the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, Vol. 1, 
pp. 378, 420. A very careful and sagacious estimate of the doctrinal and prac- 
tical views which were generally accepted in the New England churches before 
this period, covering the first twenty-five years after 1772, is presented in a paper 
by Rev. Luther Hart. Quarterly Christian Spectator, 1833, Vol. 5, No. 2, Art. 3. 



56 

there would follow a sudden conversion of a score of families 
to some new views of Christian doctrine or ordinances or 
polity ; when the shepherd of the flock was so often worried 
out of his life by the well-meant but ill-judged arts of prose- 
lyting on the part of some three or four rival competitors 
for the patronage or the caprice of unstable souls ; when three 
or four houses of worship have so often drained the resources, 
and divided the sympathies, and awakened the jealousies 
of a scanty population ; when every visitation of the divine 
spirit was certain to be followed by an unholy scrambling for 
new accessions to this or that Christian communion; when 
in almost every parish of New England was repeated the scan- 
dal and the shame of Protestant Cbristendom in its petty 
division into manifold sects ; it was for nearly three-fourths 
of a century the glory of this meeting-house that witliin its 
ample inclosure all the people were gathered for worship and 
rejoiced in the same shepherd and pastor. Even when a few 
families constituted another religious society, this sense of 
unity was scarcely disturbed. The member^ of the old parish 
contributed nearly as freely to the erection of the new meeting- 
house as though it had been a chapel of their own and its 
existence has never awakened any feelings of jealousy or 
strife. The time is fast approaching when these unseemly 
divisions among those who hold one faith and one Lord, must 
o-ive way before the pressure of a common foe from without 
or be consumed under the re-kindled and awakening zeal of 
the new life from within; when the assumption by the several 
sects to exclusive claims will be signally rebuked by the mas- 
ter, or abandoned before the sliarp judgments of liis provi- 
dence ; when the duty of mutual compromise and united 
action and fellowship will bring together many of those half- 
starved churches, and put an end to their warfare on one 
another and indirectly upon the cause which tliey profess to 
serve. 

Much also might be said in view of the history of this old 
meeting-house, of the workings of the self-governed church 
which was the mother church of New England. Were we to 
take the history of this parish and this church for two hund- 



57 

dred and thirty years and review it in the spirit of impartial 
criticism, we might safely challenge Christendom to produce 
any Iietter results under any other polity or from any other 
organization. We would not forget the excesses which have 
come from over-heated zeal, or party strife, or disturbing and 
ambitious leaders, or covetous worldliness, or unchristian hos- 
tility to the truth. We would make tlie largest concessions 
to what might be urged against the austere spirit and narrow 
systems of the fathers, and against the lax libertinism, and 
the worldly compliance of their sons. We would concede 
that there has been sometiiing of priestly denunciation and of 
lay intermeddling, and that strife and division have occasion- 
ally wrought their evil work. But we may still look with 
pride upon the honor which the history of the church brings 
upon the polity and principles which it has tested for a century 
past. The men whom it has trained in its school of thought 
and action — the women whose saintly piety and efficient be- 
nevolence it has cherished and inspired — the families whom it 
has blessed by its simple worship and its friendly care — the 
poor at home whom it has fed and comforted — the feeble 
churches at a distance which from the first it has fostered and 
befriended — the unenlightened to whom it has sent its living 
messengers and its never-failing contributions — the oppressed 
whom it has remembered in their bonds — the country to which 
it has been true in the years of its peril — the hundreds of men 
and women who in every part of the country are ready to 
rise up and bless it — these are witnesses to what one of these 
New England church.es has accomplished. We glory in our 
"mother church" for similar works which she has done in 
hundreds of communities. We are not blind to its defects, 
nor would we propagate it as a sect to the destruction or weak- 
enino- of a single Christian household. We care for it most 
of all because it is so unsectarian in its spirit and large-hearted 
in its charity, and because by its simple organization it so 
readily adapts its views of Chrisian truth, its modes of worship 
and its conceptions of Christian culture and of Christian duty 
to whatever Christ is continually teacliing his church by his 
providence and spirit. We believe that something like it will 



58 

be eminently tlie clmrcli of the future — when the living and 
present Christ shall come nearer to his people and they shall 
live more consciously in his presence and for his kingxlom. 
Perhaps this old church which has so sturdily withstood all 
physical decay for a' hundred years may not ueed to survive 
another century to witness a united Christendom — when in 
every village there shall be but one fold and one shepherd ; 
when all shall be re-baptized with the spirit of the Master and 
fulfil His prayer for his disciples " that they all may be one, 
as Thou Father art in me and I in Thee, that they also may 
be one in us, that the world may believe that Thou hast sent 
me." 

During the existence of this meeting-house the parish has 
more than once been peacefully divided. New churches have 
been constituted which regard tliis church in a very special 
sense as their mother. There are a few among the members 
of each of these parishes who never pass this meeting-house 
without a blessing, or think of the old gatherings on Sunday 
without a leap of the heart, as they recall the times when the 
long trains of wagons brought in their hundreds of worship- 
ers and carried them home with pleasant remembrances of 
social fellowship and of Christian incitement. There are 
many from the parishes which still belonged to the old town of • 
Farmington when this church was raised and whose fathers 
gathered here to take the Oath of Fidelity to the state of Con- 
necticut, headed by their ministers, and joined in the same 
committees for the service of the country, and went to the 
field at a moment's warning. Few of the descendants of 
these families have forgotten the traditions and associations 
which connect them with this church and this meeting-house. 
The thrift and sagacity which have brought such large acces- 
sions of wealth and of population to these neighboring com- 
munities — the Christian zeal and liberality for which they are 
distinguished — the love of order and education and the best 
features of the old New England life which they have cher- 
ished, are all in no small degree to be ascribed to the influ- 
ences which have proceeded from this meeting-house green, 
and very largely from this meeting-house. No inhabitant of 



59 

the old town who knows anything of its history or cares any- 
thing for the New England traditions can fail to liail the old 
church as it completes the past century of its life. There are 
others still — emigrants from this once flourishing community, 
and the children of emigrants, and their children's children, 
who themselves or their ancestors have worshiped in this 
house, but in the earlier days settled in Vermont, or a little 
later spread themselves along the great avenue that was open- 
ing westward through the Empire state, or have been scat- 
tered through wliat were the forests of Ohio, Michigan, and 
Indiana, or distributed along the prairies of the Great Val- 
ley, or impelled to the Pacific shore, to whom this old meet- 
ing-house is cherished with sacred associations, whether it is 
a blessed memory or an image hallowed by the loyal affection 
of honored kindred. 

We may not conclude without a more distinct reference to 
the deceased pastors of the church who have done so much 
to make this meeting-house a blessing to the community. 
When the house was dedicated, the courtly and fervent Mr. 
Pitkin had been pastor of the church for twenty years. His 
fluent and animated exhortations and his earnest piety were 
esteemed and honored in it thirteen years afterwards.* W^hen 
the Revolutionary war was over, he was dismissed at his own 
request, but he continued to reside in the village ; sat in the 
pulpit and rendered occasional acceptable services to the 
church till be died in 1812, forty years after the church edi- 
fice "was finished. Then followed ten years of party strife 
and low morals and worldly prosperity! till the ordination of 
Mr. Washburn, whose winning manners and saintly elevation 
brought many accessions to the church, and a great and last- 
ing blessing to the community. After ten years he died and 
for a generation was mourned by many and is yet not alto- 
gether forgotten by a few.| In 1806 Rev. Dr. Porter was 
ordained the pastor. The vote by which he was invited to 
accept the office was thus phrased : "Voted that this society, 

* See the sketch of his life in Porter's Historical Discourse, p. 77. 

t The same, p. 78. 

t See Porter's Historical Discourse, p. 79. 



60 

from personal acquaintance with Mr. Noah Porter, Jr., heing 
one of us, and from sufficient experience of his ministerial 
gifts and qualifications, are satisfied that he is eminently 
qualified for the work of the Gospel ministry, and do now call 
and invite him to settle with and take the charge of the peo- 
ple of this society in that important work." And in this 
spirit lie was received and supported till his death. I need 
not refer to any further particulars of the events of his ministry 
for the first fifty years, for he has recorded them fully in the 
sermon which was preached at the expiration of that period. 
I need not describe his character ; he was known and read of 
all men, and there were few who did not honor and love him. 
That he loved this church and delighted in this meeting-house 
you need not be told. It was providentially ordered that the 
afternoon appointed for his burial was so inclement that his 
remains, which had been brought to this house for the public 
religious services, were detained till the following morning 
before they were consigned to the earth. A few of the parish- 
ioners and friends kept watch during the night. It was fitting 
of itself that these remains should rest awhile in this place 
where for more tlian eighty years he had been an habitual 
worshiper, and for sixty had served as pastor. It is confi- 
dently believed by some 

" That millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth 
Both when we wake and when we sleep ; 

****** and oft in bands 
While they keep watch, or nightly sounding walk, 

With heavenly touch of instrumental sound 
In full harmonic numbers join their songs, 

Divide the night and lift our thoughts to heaven. 

If this is true, surely on that night there were gathered in 
this house the spirits of other generations to renew with their 
pastor the worship in which he and they had united when 
present here in the body. With him they reviewed all the 
memories of the past, and recalled the scenes which had hal- 
lowed these walls ; as with united ascriptions of praise and 
thanksgiving they rendered homage to the Redeemer who had 
brought them safely out of the joys and sorrows of earth to 



61 

the rest and joy of the heavenly temple ; they did not forget 
to bless again and again this house of God to which as lovers 
and friends, parents and children they had walked so often in 
company. 

We would fain believe that on the present occasion a still 
larger assembly is present of the spirits who have gone 
before, some of whose faces and forms we have often seen in 
this house and cannot forget whenever we come here to wor- 
ship. What looks of love do they cast upon us, what unseen 
glances of unspeakable tenderness and sympathy! What 
words do they breathe of unspoken affection, what prayers and 
praises do they present which we may not hear ! With what 
homage do they regard this venerated sanctuary ! What an 
estimate do they place upon the work which it has wrought! 
With tender and reverent care they commit it to the hands of 
the present generation, to alter and decorate it as they will, if 
it may better serve the needs of the present and the future, 
but charging us to retain if possible, even for another century, 
the house which has survived the first with such steady per- 
sistence, and served so many generations so well. 



ADDRESSES. 



ADDRESS OF Rev. SETH BLISS, BERLIN. 

[For want of time a part of this was not spoken on the occasion.] 

Ladies and Gentlemen : 

I am not a native of this town. An Irishman replied to the question where 
were you born? " I was horn five miles from any place." Although I was born 
more than five miles from Farmington, I claim affinity with one of its pioneer 
settlers. 

John Root emigrated from Gadby, England, and settled in this town in 1640. 
He was one of its founders, and also of the Church. A man of distinction and 
of good estate, he was one of the signers to the agreement for tlie settlement of 
the town as one of the original proprietors. My claim dates back to this sturdy 
Puritan ; for I married a Root of the seventh generation in the direct line of de- 
scent from him. I am happy to recognize in your Committee a gentleman in the 
same line of descent from John Root.* Doubtless there are others here sprung 
from this vigorous Root. His oldest son, Stephen, was a noted man, and called 
the giant of Farmington ; of strong build, standing six feet and six inches, of 
herculean strength, fearless courage, great energy, and inflexible will. 

Foot-racing was one of the pastimes of that day. But one Indian was found 
who could outrun him. He beat every white man in town. So confident of his 
flcetness and power of endurance that he challeged one to the race, with an ox- 
chain around his own shoulders. No hostile Indian dared approach him, well 
knowing that a blow from his long arm would prostrate him ; and if one saw 
Stephen raising his long gun, unconditional surrender was the only hope of his 
life. If he turned to run he knew the unerring ball would crush through his back. 
He was engaged for two and a half years in wars with the Indians. 

He was with Major Treat in the assault and capture of Fort Narragansett ; 
and it is said, that with his huge musket and sword did terrible execution. He 
belonged to the Cromweliian age, given to prayer, but careful to keep his powder 
dry. He was a prodigy in marches and campaigns, of "great mind and sound 
judgment." Himself and family united with this church. Had not this town 
and church sprung from such vigorous Roots this durable building and this intel- 
ligent community would not be hei-e to day. Let us on this occasion honor the 
heroic and self-sacrificing men that knew on what foundation to build for God, 



'•Hon. John S. Rice. 



63 

for the church, for the State and posterity. Their worivs do follow them, and 
the next centennial will honor their memory. Is it not laudable to claim atfinity 
with such men 1 Permit me to say that for almost fifty years I have found my- 
self W/ss/ii/Zy "rooted and (jroundfd" with one descended from one of the fathers 
of this town and this church. Were not this so, probably I should not he here 
at four-score years to join with you in these reminiscences, and perhaps her with 
whom I am rooted would not in vigor have survived her seventy-sixth year. If 
you should say to me as Paul said to the Jews at Rome, " boast not thyself; for 
thou bearest not the Root, but the Root thee," I cheerfully submit. The question 
is riot del);\tcable. Although a stranger to this generation, will ybu admit my 
claim to affinity with all the good in Farmington ? 

I pass to another claim founded on ecclesiastical grounds. 

Fifty years ago I resided here, and statedly worshiped in this temple for nearly 
two years. From this pulpit I have heen instructed, edified and comforted. 
Within these walls I have witnessed scenes of momentous interest — God and 
souls covenanting for time and eternity. 

I must tell you how all this came to pass. The revival of religion which ex- 
tensively blessed the churches of this State, and most abundantly this church in 
1820 and 1821, commenced in the New Haven churches. Brethren from those 
were invited to visit other churches and relate the origin and progress of that 
revival. I was one of three who accepted the invitation to visit the First Church 
in Hartford in the iifternoon, and this church in the evening of the same dav. 
When we left Hartford a violent snow-storm had commenced. With difficulty 
we reached here in time. Notice of the meeting was given on the previous Sab- 
bath, and the people earnestly invited to hear us. The bell was to give notice of 
our arrival. 

The Holy Spirit was already preparing the way of the Lord. The notice of 
the meeting and the earnest appeal of the pastor, had set many to thinking on 
their spiritual state. What, said they, can those men tell us that we have not 
often heard ? They must believe that they can say something important for us 
to hvar and we will hear them." Let me give one illustration of this. General 
George Cowles, a prominent citizen, was an early subject of the revival. Relat- 
ing his experience, he said, " The notice of the meeting led me to think of my 
religious state and prospects for eternity. This subject so engrossed my mind 
that when the storm began I feared the brethren would not come and the meeting 
fail. When the bell struck I was shaving. It so startled me that I dropped my 
razor and sat down to collect my thoughts ; for it seemed like a summons to the 
final judgment." As was said in the discourse this morning, the Holy Spirit 
came like a mighty rushing wind sweeping over the community. 

Our meeting filled the hall, and closed with an urgent appeal from the pastor 
to give immediate attention to the subject. On the next morning, two of the 
deacons wiih the pastor, invited me to come here and pursue my studies, saying 
there were no young men in the church to assist in religious meetings. Mr. Ed- 
ward Hooker offered me a home in his family, and aid in study. Early in the 
next week, February, 1821, I returned. The first enquiry meeting had been held 
and filled a private i)arlor. The following week Mr. Nettleton came to the aid 
of the pastor. No private room could now accommodate the numerous enquirers. 
For successive weeks they filled the public hall. His preaching was searching, 
stirring the conscience and quickening self-consciousness, revealing the sinner to 



64 

himself. Let me give one instance of this. The morning after he had preached 
in his most pungent manner, an excited hearer called on the pastor and intimated 
that he had given Mr. N. his private history. He was assured to the contrary, 
and that not even his name had been mentioned to him. To confirm this Mr. N. 
was culled into the room and said to the man, "you must be mistaken, for no one 
his said a word to me respecting you." Hi at once discerned the cause of his 
trouble and closed the interview with prayer. That man was in the next enquiry 
meeting and there found peace. He is not here to-day, for he was then past mid- 
dle life. 

That beautiful June Sahbath referred to this morning, I well remember ; when 
115 persons, hushand and wife, parents and children, the aged, and the young 
thronged all these aisles with, morally speaking, the eHte of the congregation, to 
covenant with God and this church for this world and the next. 

Those who witnessed that scene never can forget it. Oil, that you could have 
witnessed tiie joy and gratitude of their faithful pastor, who, for si.xteen years, 
had earnestly preached and prayed for such triumphs of divine truth and grace, 
and heard his jubilant sermon on that day, from Ps. 126 ; 1, 2, 3. He regarded 
that revival as an ever memorable era in the history of this ancient church, in not 
only adding largely to its members, but lifting it to a higher plane and a more 
vigorous life. Few of those who then stood in these aisles, and professed their 
love for the Lord Jesus Christ, and of those who filled these seats, are here to. 
day, and fewer still, probably, that recollect the speaker as a witness of that scene. 
They are gone — gone with their beloved pastor to adorn the crown of their Re- 
deemer. 

Let me in this coimection speak of the eloquent Griffin referred to this morning, 
and whose voice has been heard from this pulpit, and recite an instance of his 
eloquence related to me by Dr. Porter. 

After declitiing the call of this church, he settled in New Hartford. A pow- 
erful revival soon blessed the neighboring church of Torringford. The pastor. 
Father Mills, as we are accustomed to call him, invited the youthful Grifiin to 
labor a week with him. On returning to his own charge he found himself so 
prostrated as to forbid his usual preparation for the Sabbath. Entering his pul- 
pit he told the congregation that he was so exhausted by his labors in Torring- 
ford, he had no sermon for them, and that the best he could do was to relate some 
of the scenes he had witnessed there. At the close of his thrilling narrative he 
contia^^ted their low religious state with that of the Torringford church. He 
was himself so moved by the contrast, that his emotions choked his utterance 
and he sat down in tears. The people too were as deeply moved A wave of 
divine influence swept over the congregation. Tears flowed in the pews. The 
pulpit broke down, and then the pews broke down, and the people retired weep- 
ing and praying for help. 

That was the beginning of the most powerful revival New Hartford had ever 
seen. 

Those who have heard the matchless voice of that distinguished man and felt 
his great emotional power will readily account for such effects. 

Hlre let this house stand externally unchanged in its Puritan simplicity and 
strength, to the honor of God and its wise builders. Here three generations 
have worshiped the Triune God. From this piUpit the blessed gospel of his 
Son has been faithfully proclaimed. Here souls have been born of Heaven. 
Here the weary and heavy laden sinner has found rest. Here the children of 



65 

God liave been edified, strengthened, and comforted in their sorrows. Here 
thousands liave commemorated the great sacrifice of Infinite Love. Li:t it staxd, 
and transmit all these sacred associations to three coming generations more, who 
may successively worsliip within these walls, occupy these seats, learn the true 
way to happiness and heaven ; that the sixth generation may celebrate its second 
centennial in renewing the sacred reminiscences of two centuries. As the years 
pass, one after another will rise from this temple to the eternal temple above, 
and there unite with the redeemed of all ages, and with the thousands born to 
a heavenly life here, in crowning Him Lord of all whom they having not seen 
on earth yet loved. " As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,'' 
while earthly temj)les endure. 



ADDRESS OF Hon. FRANCIS GILLETTE. 

Mr. Chairman, and Ladies and Gentlemen of Farmington: 

I am happy to be here on this memorial occasion, to participate with you in its 
pleasant memories. My heart beats in glad unison with your hearts to the voices 
of tlic past, and the joys of the present. Altliough I cannot claim the honor of 
being a son of Farmington — only a son-in-law, which, I have reason to think, in 
my own case, at least, the better kind of sonship — I am deeply interested in what- 
ever concerns her lineal sons; in all their bright memories of the past; their 
hijih aims of the present, and their sanguine iiopcs of the future. How could it 
be otherwise ! With you sleep many dear ones — half of my own household, and 
others allied to me by many tender ties; and, though it was not my lot to begin 
the race of life with you, I anticipate ending it here, erelong, and resting sweetly 
from all its vicissitudes of good and ill, its hopes and fears, its joys and sorrows, 
in your own green and peaceful vale, lulled by the music of its gently flowing 
river. 

When invited to say something on this occasion I promised to do so provided 
I could think of anything to say ; for of all men, and women even, those who 
talk when they have nothing to say, are the most tedious and intolerable. To be 
of their number I should deem a great misfortune to myself, and a greater one to 
my audience. 

Another source of apprehension which gave me some disqiiietude, after I had 
made the rash promise, was, that if any bright thoughts should come to bless me, 
other preceding speakers would anticipate me in giving them expression- as 
might be the case where many speak on the same theme — and thus leave me 
somewhat in the predicament of that Dutch author, who parried the charge of 
plagiarism by accusing the thievish ancients of having stolen all his best thoughts. 

But to come to the subject of my story ; I have an additional word to say con- 
cerning this noble old meeting-house, whose first Centennial we celebrate to-day. 
I well remember the impression it gave me when, for the first time, I crossed its 
northern threshold, as a grateful worshiper on the Thanksgiving-day morning 
of 1834. Its quaint, tub-like, old pulpit, high above the pews, beneath which sat 
in awful gravity two most venerable deacons, and over which hung a jiear-shaped 
canopy by a stem hardly visible, just ready to fall upon the head of the good 

9 



minister — all arrested my attention and excited speculation. As nearly as I can 
recollect the conclusion to which I came concerning the design or use of the 
wooden avalanche, was, that it was an invention, not to help the preacher's voice, 
which needed no help, but to hang over him in terrorein, after the manner of the 
sword of Damocles, to fall and crush him, should he preach any false doctrine. 
So it seemed a pulpit-extinguisher, or heresy-annihilator. It had a very Calvin- 
istic look ; dark, grim, and terrible. It was suggestive of the doctrine of decrees, 
or the Divine fore-ordination of whatsoever cometh to pass, which one of its 
devotees, in the olden time, of this place probably, though the story does not say 
so, illustrated in this wise : He used always to be saying to his wife and friends 
that they " should not take any trouble or anxiety about their lives, since the 
moment of their death was writ before the foundation of the world and they 
could not alter it. It was decreed, fore-ordained, unchangeable. It is as fixed 
as the throne of Heaven." This champion of the doctrine of decrees having 
occasion, one day, to pass over the frontier of the settlement into the Indian 
country, his good wife observed that he took the utmost pains in pre])aring his 
gun. He put in a new flint and new priming, taking every precaution to be pre- 
pared for the worst, should he meet a hostile Indian. As he was starting with 
his gun on his shoulder, fully accoutred, with powder-horn and shot-pouch hang- 
ing on either side, it seemed to his observant wife that his practice was not in 
keeping with his precept, and she said to him very blandly, as wives know how to 
do, " My dear, why do you take that gun? If it was writ before the foundation 
of the world, that you are to be killed by an Indian, on your journey, that gun 
won't prevent it ; and if you are not to l)e killed, of course that gun is entirely 
unnecessary ; so why do you take it at all ? " 

" Yes," he replied, " to be sure, my dear, of course you are right, perfectly 
right, and that is a very sensible and proper view ; but see here, my dear, now — 
really — but — then — you see, my dear; to be sure — ahem — but supposing — sup- 
posing I should meet with a bloody Indian while I am gone, and his time had 
come, according as it was writ before the foundation of the world, and I hadn't 
my gun with me, what would he do ? You never thought of that — did you "? Re- 
member, my dear, we must all do what we can to fulfil the decrees of Provi- 
dence." 

We infer the character of men from the works which they leave behind them. 
By their fruits ye shall know them. This house reveals the character and taste 
of its builders. In the first place, I notice the ample provision made in its archi- 
tecture for the admission of light. If, as it is said, windows are the eyes of a 
house, surely this house can see wondrously well. It may be said to be Argus- 
eyed and more. Like the four beasts which St. John saw, it is full of eyes, be- 
fore, behind, and on all sides. Obviously, its builders believed in the sun rather 
than in beautifully painted windows and candle-light. " The dim, religious 
light," spoken of by the jioet, had no charms for them, as it struggles in scantily 
through discoloring windows and cuts up ridiculous shines on peoples' faces 
within. On the contrary, they practically agreed with Milton in his grand apos- 
trophe to light : 

" Hail, holy light ! offspring of heaven, first-born ; 
Or of the eternal, co-eternal beam; 
Bright effluence of bright essence increate ! " 
No, no, the fathers had no partiality for Gothic cathedrals, with their darkened 



l.ofO. 



67 

windows, uncouth images, ghostly pilhxrs, and sepulchral dimness. Puritanism 
loved light rather than darkness, walked in the light, rejoiced in the light, and 
echoed the Divine command, Let there be light! Diogenes with his flickering 
torch at noon-day, searching through Athens for an honest man, was a type and 
forerunner of those modern church architects, who shut out the cheerful, all-ani- 
mating sunlight, and take to gas and spermaceti. The builders of this house did 
not thus insult and dishanor the glorious king of day, and put darkness for light. 
I honor their memories as children of the light, and light-diifasers to the sur- 
rounding world. 

Another characteristic of the architecture of this house, illustrative of the 
character of its builders, is, the great thoroughness with which it was built. 
There is nothing superficial or shammy about it. After a hundred years it is 
looking as fresh and beautiful to-day, with its royal garniture of flowers, as a 
bride adorned for her husband. Who would suppose that three generations have 
passed through it on their pilgrimage to eternity ! Indeed, it promises well for 
another century or two, and possibly, possibly, the King of glory, at his second 
coming may find it here, and, as the good Shepherd, gather his lambs within its 
fold. Who can tell ? It was built for the ages. No pains were spared to make 
it a worthy gift to posterity. It was founded upon a rock. Its timbers are mas • 
sive oak ; its covering is the selected mountain pine, and, though the winds and 
rains and wintry storms of a century have beaten upon it, it still stands firm, 
lifting its tall and graceful spire steadily toward the heaven whither so many of 
its humble worshipers have gone, and pointing us to the same blessed hereafter. 
May it stand forever. May floods of golden sunlight continue long to stream in 
through its many windows, and the higher liglit of life shine, as hitherto, 
brightly reflected from its pulpit. May generation after generation gather here 
before their Maker, and be illumined and safely guided through all these earthly 
labyrinths to their heavenly home. We welcome them to these seats and to this 
altar. We send down to them from this Centennial our cordial greetings and 
Christian salutations. We stretch out our eager hands to them with tender so- 
licitude. We admonish them to be faithful to the God of their fathers, and true 
to their country. We bid them be of good courage and press on to that great 
victory which overcometh the world. We leave to them the st indard of the 
Cross and the flag of Freedom, charging them, by the dear names of Immanuel 
and of Washington, to guard them well, and never surrender them, never dis- 
honor them, never let them go down. 

Much more presses to be spoken in commemoration of the illustrious builders 
of this house, and their contemporaries, but time would fiiil me to speak minutely 
of their many virtues. They were stern men, noble men, kingly men, positive 
men, who had convictions and courage to follow them. They were rocked in 
the cradle of the old Ilevolution, and believed, with all their might, in George 
Washingtoii, and the Westminster Assembly's Catechism. Adversity was their 
nurse ; hardship their ally. Shams and softness, laziness and prodigality they 
despised ; truth and sincerity, industry and frugality, courage and honesty they 
loved. Like their owu forest-oaks they stood firm, and gained strength and ex- 
pansion from every passing storm. They could not be moved, for God was at 
their right hand. If their faith did not remove mountains, it surmounted them 
by triumphing over great difiSculties and discouragements. 



68 

Rise, my soul ! survey the path 

By ancient worthies trod ; 
Aspirinjr, view tliose holy men 

Who lived and walked with God. 
Though dead they speak in reason's ear. 

And in example live ; 
Their faith and hope and mighty deeds 

Still fresh instruction give. 



REMARKS OF ELIHU BURRITT, LL. D., AT THE FARMINGTON 
CENTENARY, Oct. 16th. 

There are no family gatherings that present such social aspects as those of a 
mother church and its children, and grandchildren. A single, private family 
often has but a transient life, or a temjiorary location. Its members scatter 
themselves through the country, and death or dispersion leaves the old homestead 
to fall into other hands. But a church is a family that never dies, never emi- 
grates, never loses its local habitation or name. From century to centurj- it pre- 
serves all the relations and characteristics of a single family. It always em- 
braces in its social circle the old and young, men, women, and children. You 
never sec a gray-haired church, nor one all in the summer locks of middle life, or 
one all in the golden hair of youth. Every village church embraces all these ages 
and aspects of life; and it is the only human family on earth that may be called 
immortal. 

Then there is no building so social in its structure, object, and enjoyment as 
one of the old fasliioned New England churches like this. The temples, palaces, 
and pyramids of the heathen world were all erected by compulsor}- or unrequited 
labor. The Christian religion is the only system of faith and sentiment that ever 
erected a public building on the perfectly voluntary and social principle. One 
hundred years ago, how this green and lovely valley, and these mountains that 
hold it in their arms, resounded with all the axes and hammers of the forefathers 
of the village at work upon this house of God ! It was a father's house to them; 
it was to be the religious home of all their families blended into one happy and 
lasting fellowship. It was the unpaid work of love and faith. It was an honest 
work in every beam, and brace, and rafter. It was a home work from floor to 
ceiling, roof and steeple. Doubtless every nail fastened in a sure place was 
wrought on the village anvil. And what those early fathers built and gave to 
their children was received and treasured as a precious heir-loom by them. And 
many of us have come up from neighboring towns to thank them for preserving 
this religious home of their fathers up to this day in all the integrity of its orig 
inal form and structure; and, for one, I hope it may thus stand for a hundred 
years to come. If it does not, it will not be its own fault ; for there were giants 
in those days, and the mighty timbers they put into their church buildings were 
designed and able to last for centuries. 

It is an honor to the people of this venerable mother town that they have pre 
served such a historical monument as this, even detached from its relierious asso- 



69 

ciations and objects. I do not know how many churches in this State have 
reached a hundred years on their original foundations. This is not only a histor- 
ical monument, but a historical measure. If we put it against the past as such 
a measure, what comparisons does it make or suggest' This building was 
erected by the colonial subjects of the British crown. Its foundations were laid 
by men who had not seen one stone brought to the edifice of the American Union. 
These walls are ten years older than the structure of this great Continental Re- 
public. 

I have called Farmington a mother-town. So she is ; so she has been, a kind 
and generous mother, for nearly two hundred years, to the communities she has 
begotten. She is the mother of full twelve tribes, who recognize that affectionate 
and maternal relation here .to-day. And, to her honor and to their own be it 
said, that though she numbers as many children as Jacob could boast, not one of 
them has ever proved so indiscreet and unfortunate as his only daughter, Dinah. 
Not one of them ever made a clandestine or improper alliance with the aborig- 
inal tribes who once possessed this goodly land, or even with the Dutch settlers 
on the Connecticut or Hudson, or with any other questionable Gentiles. 

I feel it a great honor and privilege to say a few words on this happy occasion 
on behalf of one, if not the oldest daughter of our common mother. Of all the 
scattered members of her family that came up to worship at this common Jeru- 
salem of their religious instruction and fellowship. New Britain, at least, had the 
longest and hardest miles to travel. For none of the rest had such hills and 
mountains to cross as the families of " Ye Great Swamp," as our ambitious town 
was then called. To children this was an immense and laborious distance. Every 
one must know that when there are only six inches between a boy's knee and 
the sole of his foot, the miles are very long and the houses and hills very high. I 
remember well this experience of heights, depths, and lengths on this very moun- 
tain road. For when I made my first journey to Farmington, I stepped off the 
whole distance with a pair of legs not much longer than those of a carpenter's 
compass. New Britain at that time was smaller still, compared with its present 
size, than I was compared with a full-grown man. On the whole site of our city 
there were hardly a dozen dwelling-houses to be seen, and these were of very 
ordinary structure and aspect. I never shall forget the feeling of awe and admir- 
ation which the first sight of Farmington produced in my child's mind. After 
the longest walk I had ever made on my small bare feet, we came suddenly upon 
the view of this glorious valley and of the largest city I had ever conceived of. 
I was smitten with wonder. I dared not go any fiirther, though urged by my 
older brothers. I clambered up the Sunset Rock, and sitting down on the edge 
with my feet over the side, looked off upon the scene with a feeling like that of a 
man first coming in view of Rome and its St. Peters. I had never before seen a 
church with a steeple, and measuring this above us with a child's eye it seemed 
to reach into the very heavens. This steeple crowned all the wonders I saw. I 
sat and gazed at it until my brothers returned to me. And this thought was up- 
permost in all that_ filled my mind. I remember it as if it were the thought of 
yesterday. If I could only stand where that brass rooster stood on the steeple, 
could I not look right into heaven and see what was going on there 1 Or if that 
were a live rooster, and should crow every morning, could not all the good Farm- 
ington people who had gone to heaven, hear him, and know l>y his voice that he 
was a Farmington rooster, and would they not all be glad to hear him crow, not 



70 

only that they were so happy, but because so many of their children were safely 
on the way to the same happiness. In later years I learned that what to my 
youthful imagination appeared to be a rooster was in fact a crown, placed there 
in honor of the king under whose reign this house was erected, which was subse- 
quently changed to a star, as it is at the present time. 

This was the honest, reverent thought of a child, at his first sight of this 
church. And now the same child having become a man, and having seen a good 
many taller steeples even than this, it is a great pleasure to me to stand within 
these walls as a member of one of the religious communities represented here to- 
day, and to share with them the hallowed associations and memories which this 
anniversary is so calculated to revive. It is one of the happy experiences of this 
occasion, that we have had the distinguished privilege of listening to the history 
of this church and community from the lips of a son whom Farmington holds 
in a pride and affection which we all share, not only by birthright inheritance, 
but by those higher affinities and relationships which have impressed his name 
and character upon the intellectual history, progress, and moral stature of the 
American nation. 



EEMARKS BY LEVERETT GRIGG^^, 

Late Pastor of the Congregational church in Bristol. 

This house an hundred years old ! These walls, roof, and even the shingles ! 
I have often stated this fact, but could hardly credit my own statement. Last 
week I met with a Farmington man and had my faith reassured ; now I believe 
it is really so. This frame is all just as massive and firm as when first erected, 
and the whole structure is more beautiful than on the day of its dedication, for it 
has some adornments without and within such as it did not originally possess. 
It is like an aged matron who is matured in wisdom, and mellowed by piety, and 
thus rendered more dignified and lovely than in early youth. 

We have come from Bristol to pay our filial tribute of veneration and love to 
this mother of churches. We derived our life from this parent stock, and for 
years it was sustained by supplies from the same source. In fiict Bristol was 
once a part of Farmington, as were several other neighboring towns. The first 
deed ever made in our section, was given to a man from this place in 1727. So 
likewise the second. From that period the settlers multiplied, l)ut came to this 
center for Sal)bath worsliip and religious privileges the year round till 1742. 
Then the Legislature allowed them to establish and maintain public worship by 
themselves six months in the year. Hence that portion of the town was called 
the " Winter Parish," or " South West Society," and aftcyward "New Cam- 
bridge" when they were incorporated an Ecclesiastical Society. During all those 
years till 1747 they depended on this church for the enjoyment of Christian ordi- 
nances. 

That year — 1747 — the church in Bristol was organized, and the first minister 
settled. And whence did he come ? From Southington, which was only a part 



71 

of Farming-ton. If lie be not acknowledged as one of your oflfsj)ring, surely the 
" better half " of him will be, for his wife was one of your own refined and pol- 
ished daughters. She was the widow of Mr. Timothy Root. Her first name 
was Mary Hart. And after the Rev. Samuel Newell passed away, at the close 
of his forty-two years' pastorate, who was his successor? The Rev. Giles Hooker 
Cowles. He was one of your sons of course, for who ever heard of a Cowles 
that was not born in Farmington, or could not easily trace his lineage to this 
ancient home"? The excellent wife of our sixth pastor was also from this place 
— Mrs. Catharine L. Seeley, daughter of Hon. Timothy Cowles. Thus it ap- 
pears that two ministers and two ministers' wives were furnished by this mother 
for the church in Bristol. 

Moreover, from time to time we have been indebted to this same source for 
many of our most exemplary members. Some of them were born and reared 
among you ; others, tiiough they originated in other places, were here " born 
again" and afterwaid became pillars in our Zion. Thus we make our acknowl- 
edgements for your forming and fostering influence which pervades all our history. 

I cannot close without a word respecting him who ministered to you more 
than half a century in this sacred place. I enjoyed a partial acquaintance with 
him for many years, as his eldest son was one of my honored college class-mates. 
After I came into this neighborhood my knowledge of Dr. Porter became more 
familiar and intimate. I learned not only to venerate, but also admire and love 
him, for he was one of the most wise and holy men I ever knew. 

As you review the last century you find much to fill you with delight. You 
mav well be proud of your ancestors and proud of your sons ; and as we contem- 
plate the life and labors of the holy men and women who have gone before, let 
us all be " followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." 



Rev. Mr. FESSENDEN 
Spoke substantially as follows : 



Mr. Chairman : 

I hoped not to have been called upon at this late hour and in the presence of 
so many strangers from whom we should be glad to hear. But in answer to your 
call I will say a few words in behalf of this community. 

We are happy to welcome here to-day so many who trace their parentage to 
this community, or who represent the churches and congregations which have 
sprung from this venerable mother church. We rejoice and cherish a paternal 
pride in them. We thank God for their number and prosperity, their steadfast- 
ness in the faith and their great usefulness. We shall ever pray for God's con- 
tinued blessing upon them. 

Allow me to express the great satisfaction with which we listened to the very 
able, interesting, and appropriate address of Tres. Porter this morning. It was a 
most becoming tribute to an honored ancestry. It was all that we desired, and 
will possess a historic value not easily over-estimated. This, Sir, adds another to 
the many, and great obligations which this community owe to the Porter family. 
We are not unmindful of, nor insensible to, them. 



72 

It was in the fall of 1838, thirty-four years ago, that I first became acquainted 
with Farmington. It was then my delightful privilege to spend a few days in 
the family of the ever loved and revered Dr. Porter ; and on Thanksgiving day 
and the following Sabbath for the first time to listen to his pulpit exercises. I 
can never forget the impression then made upon me and which was many times 
repeated by them in after years. Every thing in the appearance, the manner, 
and the utterances of this venerable servant of God was becoming the solemnity 
of the i)lace and the occasion. There was great simplicity, seriousness, and ap- 
propriateness. His invocations and prayers were the natural expressions of a 
true shepherd, and spiritual leader and guide, receiving their characters and a 
special pertinency from the circumstances of his flock and their special condi- 
tions and wants. His sermons were uniformly of a very high order. They 
were eminently practical discussions of just those subjects which were adapted to 
instruct, convert, edify, and comfort his hearers. They at different times covered 
a wide range of topics, and illustrated and enforced them with great copiousness 
and variety of thought, with great logical force, and, not unfrequently, with 
remarkable beauty and elegance of style and imagery. Generally they were 
confined closely to a single topic. It was naturally drawn from the text, and 
was usually formally stated. It stood forth in bold relief throughout the dis- 
course. The speaker was soon lost in his subject. The interest of every thought- 
ful and attentive hearer was secured, and increased as the speaker advanced ; and 
it was not uncommon for the whole audience to be hushed to stillness and some- 
times to be greatly moved by the convincing, and persuasive, and powerful exhi- 
bitions of truth thus made. It was by such a ministry of the gospel of Christ, 
during a period of more than 50 years, that manifold and inestimable blessings 
were secured to this people. 

On the afternoon of that Sabbath day I for the first time officiated in that pul- 
pit. A remarkable and most interesting spectacle was presented by the congre- 
gation before me. It was before the congregations of Plainville and Unionville 
were formed, and a large number of the people of those villages were accustomed 
statedly to worship in this house, which was often filled full. I recall the appear- 
ance of many of the aged men and women of the congregation, some of whom 
usually occupied the pews directly in front of the pulpit. There were the Lewis's, 
and Crampton's, the Thompson's and Gays, the Stanley's, and Langdon's. In 
yonder seat was the tall and courtly figure of Gen. Solomon Cowles. Behind 
him was the stalwart frame and noble countenance of Major Timothy Cowles, — 
next to him sat the late Mr. John T. Norton, a noble example of a true New 
England man. Having early acquired a competence in Albany, by his integrity, 
industry, and business skill, he in mid life returned to his native town and built 
a beautiful home near the spot of his birth. There the later years of his life 
were passed, devoted to the pursuits of agriculture, in the quiet and culture of a 
beloved family, the friend and patron of everything good. Yonder was the seat 
of the sagacious and staunch Horace Cowles, and near him the peace loving, 
and peace making Edward Hooker. There was the beloved physician, Asaliel 
Thompson, and there the benevolent, and eminently useful and successful teacher, 
Dea. Simeon Hart. These and other scarcely less remarkable men then gave 
character to this community. They were strong minded, God fearing, ho: est 
men, who carried their religion with them into all the walks of life; and having 
faithfully served God and their fellow-men in their day and generation, one .. ter 



73 

another they have passed away. Do you wonder that their chiklren cherish their 
memories, and honor their virtues, and are so richly blessed in their inlieritance? 
In closing, let me say that those who now occupy the places of such an ances- 
try are not unmindful of the high responsibilities devolved upon them. They 
desire to transmit this priceless heritage to those who shall come after them. We 
love this sacred place and the church which still lives and worships within these 
walls. We desire that the precious truths on which this church was founded 
.shall here ever be taught and preached. Our prayer and effort shall be that we 
may never prove recreant to the high and sacred trust which God has devolved 
upon us. 



ISAAC G. PORTER, M. D., 

of New London, being called upon, responded, substantially as follows : 

After a ride of seventy miles, in honor of this occasion, I find myself once 
more at the shrine of this dear old church, erected, in part, by and for my ances- 
tors, and in a town where the early and forming period of my life was spent. 
My father used to say to me, with a twinkle in his eye, " I helped build that 
church." " But how so," said I, " when you were born as late as 1765 ?" In 
reply he said : " When the heavy beams and rafters were raised, I pulled at the 
end of the ropes." But my "right and title" here are more direct, since my 
grandfather, then forty years of age, doubtless, did a yeoman's service at the 
raising, and my great-grandfather, then seventy-five years of age, sat within its 
walls for ten years, before he exchanged an earthly temple for an heavenly. 

Surrounded as I am by familiar objects, yet unfamiliar faces, the spirit of 
Hood's impressive lines comes over me : 

" I remember, I remember 
The house where I was born, 

The little window, where the sun 
Came peeping in at morn." 
So, associated with these surroundings, I live over again the sports of youth, 
and particularly, just now, the pastime of visiting the old belfry, whenever, /as 
ant nefas, I could gain access. With some, perhaps, of the reflections of Cow- 
per's " Jackdaw in the church steeple," it was pleasant to witness the circling 
flight of the swallows, whose dominion we had invaded, but without disturbing 
their nests beneath the eaves. Thus was explained the longing psalmist's im- 
agery : " the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself 
where she may lay her young, even thine altars, Lord of Hosts, my king and 
my God." Wherever I have been situated, on the land or on the sea, if by any 
process, this text is suggested, my mind immediately reverts to these youthful 
experiences. I use the words, as you perceive, "fas ant nefas," " right or wrong," 
for the mention of the belfry and the thought of the bell-rope brings another 
incident to my mind. Some of the elder inhabitants may remember our rather 
fee' and old sexton, Daniel Pratt. Though of the same name, he is not the 

10 



74 

peripatetic, but a worthier man, because he served his generation with the ability, 
however small, which God had given. The incident, very properly, perhaps, 
suggests to me the propriety of the psalmist's prayer : " Remember not, O Lord, 
the sins of my youth." But the associations of the moment bring to mind how 
the boys of the period used to delight in tliwarting his best concerted plans for 
preventing our entrance into the church, or belfry, on weekdays. He was once 
at work, remote from the church, when a iQ\f strokes of the bell, at intervals, 
informed him of the success of our strategy. After a time, the vidette stationed 
on the square stair in the porch, announced his approach on a slow run. We 
kept the bell in motion, until just as his key entered the back door, when we scat- 
tered in all directions, but not until we heard him say : " you had better scamper, 
you young rascals, ringing fire-bell here for half an hour."' Will some one say : 
" this is beneath the dignity of the occasion ? " But is not a little pleasantry 
allowable in the last speech when all are anxious to depart 1 Besides, was not 
" uncle Daniel " a character and entitled to notice, on the ground of having been 
"doorkeeijer of this house of the Lord " or, at least, the keeper of its keys? I 
was once reading at home, Blair's poem, " The Grave," when he came in. Says 
I to him : " Uncle Daniel, here is something for you. This poem is on the sub- 
ect of the grave and the author says, speaking of the sexton, 
"And soon, some trusty brother of the trade 
Must do for him what he has done for thousands." 

It struck him forcibly, for he remarked : " Now that is right to the point — and 
it's true too." 

You may think that this was grave reading for a lad. Perhaps it was so ; but 
in those days, books were scarce. My sabbath hours were often whiled away in 
looking over the pages of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, or the Panoplist, 
or Burder's Village Sermons. Then, we had no literary lectures, certainly none 
on a "Course of Reading," for the means of carrying out its suggestions were 
not to be found in the " Farmington Monthly Library " even if supplemented by 
the "Phoenix." 

But 1 remember other and less frivolous matters. Before the era of Sabbath 
Schools, and as their substitute and forerunner, the youth were accustomed to 
assemble in the square pews, on Saturday afternoons, to recite the Assembly's 
Catechism. As a type, or example, of the influences, which proceeded from 
that pulpit, I may refer to a sermon preached by a returned missionary, during 
which, a veritable heathen idol was exhibited. It was a fact so realistic and pal- 
pable, that it made a lasting impression upon the minds of the young and con- 
tributed much towards the formation of a missionary spirit among us. Its fruits 
have doubtless multiplied and been felt on other continents and the islands of 
the sea. As an early result, a missionary garden was cultivated among us, pro- 
ducing among other things a good crop of radishes, which were sent by stage to 
Litchfield, much as our wants are now supplied by the warmer climes of Norfolk 
or Charleston. 

But I must acknowledge, with gratitude, the happy, religious and educational 
influences which were exerted by that pulpit, with its choice language, its rational 
methods of thought, and its words of wisdom. I remember a sermon preached 
in my early youth by Rev. Dr. Hawes, of Hartford, on the text, "And Enoch 
walked with God and was not, for God took him." A spiritual atmosphere at 
the time may have pervaded the people — for it was long remembered by those 



75 

who heard it and its influences' may have culminated in the powerful revival 
which soon after followed. These, it is true, are but the experiences of a single 
mind, but let them be multiplied by the number of hearers, and who can tell the 
possible influence. 

Doubtless, some may remember, with me, the time when our front gallery was 
occupied by a company of ladies in caps and spectacles. Their voices, unlike 
wine and friendship, may not have improved with age, but the object to be at- 
tained, so honorable to their kindness of heart, was of sufficient interest and im- 
portance to draw out all who had the reputation of being good singers. A choir 
was thus formed, with " the beloved physician," Dr. Eli Todd, as their leader, 
thus securing his attendance at the house of God ; and there is reason to believe, 
that like other truly benevolent efforts, its influence was not fruitless, the buried 
seed ultimately springing into spiritual life. 

Forty years since, at the outset of active professional life, I attended worship 
for a single day, in this church, since which time, if my memory serves me, I 
have never entered it. Personally, the fact is interesting. In retrospect, what a 
vista, with its well-defined outlines, is presented ! I, this morning, visited the 
mountain on the east, the same so graphically alluded to by Hon. Mr. Burritt, as 
the terminus of his youthful walk from New Britain. The vale which so en- 
tranced his vision, with the mountain beyond, lay outstretched before me, almost 
a Tempe for beauty. From a similar stand-point, mentally, I look over to the 
high table-lands of youth, the pilgrimage of life, its hopes and fears, its successes 
and disappointments occupying the valley between. As I return once more to 
duty and leave these dear old walls, probably for the last time, I bid them fare- 
well! as to a living, conscious friend. If I ever reach the better land, I think I 
shall often re-visit this spot, the center of precious memories and the source and 
medium of blessed hopes. 



DEC 18 1901 





LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 110 402 



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